Largest crocodilians ever ?

[creature386]

We had this discussion on carnivora. Some people demanded more evidence for such claims.

[Apex]

Oh yeah.....
Sorry about that 221Extra.... I was slightly immature and biased

[Vodmeister]

Yai was 6.0 meters long and weighed 1,114 kg at the age of 28.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdjOQHnPlHQ

That video was taken back in June 2000, nowadays Yai is 41-42 yrs old.

Check out the growth rate of Deinosuchus;



Hell, I wonder how big Yai is now!

[Vodmeister]

Great documentary;


www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBc2-__ei_c

[Dakotaraptor]

Not the largest crocodylian, but still very big one:
www.academia.edu/669767/The_worlds_largest_gharials_Gryposuchus_description_of_G._croizati_n._sp._Crocodylia_Gavialidae_from_the_Upper_Miocene_Urumaco_Formation_Venezuela

[blaze]

Somewhat on topic

The ‘death roll’ of giant fossil crocodyliforms (Crocodylomorpha: Neosuchia): allometric and skull strength analysis
Rudemar Ernesto Blancoac, Washington W. Jonesbc & Joaquín Villamilbc

In the evolution of crocodylomorphs, there were at least three giant-dimension genera: Deinosuchus from late Cretaceous of North America, Sarcosuchus from middle Cretaceous of Africa and South America, and Purussaurus from Miocene of South America. It has been suggested that these predators could have fed on very large prey as dinosaurs and megamammals. The ‘death roll’ is a spinning manoeuver executed to subdue and dismember large prey; therefore, it has been previously suggested that giant cocrodylomorphs may have used this manoeuver. However, this manoeuver can generate torsional stresses in the skull. We propose a biomechanical model to estimate the capability of a crocodylomorphs for withstanding this torsional stresses. Our results show a good correlation between a ‘death roll’ capability indicator and the feeding categories related with the actual use of ‘death roll’ in 16 living species. Here, for the first time, we propose a biomechanical approach of the implications of ‘death roll’ in fossil crocodylomorphs. We suggest that Deinosuchus and Purussaurus were able to execute death roll over dinosaurs and large mammals, respectively, but Sarcosuchus probably was not. We also found some allometry effects and, finally, we discuss palaeobiological implications based on our results.

Link

[theropod]

That’s consistent with what we discussed with Godzillasaurus some time ago.

[elosha11]

Apr 20, 2014 23:16:27 GMT 5 blaze said:

Somewhat on topic

The ‘death roll’ of giant fossil crocodyliforms (Crocodylomorpha: Neosuchia): allometric and skull strength analysis
Rudemar Ernesto Blancoac, Washington W. Jonesbc & Joaquín Villamilbc

In the evolution of crocodylomorphs, there were at least three giant-dimension genera: Deinosuchus from late Cretaceous of North America, Sarcosuchus from middle Cretaceous of Africa and South America, and Purussaurus from Miocene of South America. It has been suggested that these predators could have fed on very large prey as dinosaurs and megamammals. The ‘death roll’ is a spinning manoeuver executed to subdue and dismember large prey; therefore, it has been previously suggested that giant cocrodylomorphs may have used this manoeuver. However, this manoeuver can generate torsional stresses in the skull. We propose a biomechanical model to estimate the capability of a crocodylomorphs for withstanding this torsional stresses. Our results show a good correlation between a ‘death roll’ capability indicator and the feeding categories related with the actual use of ‘death roll’ in 16 living species. Here, for the first time, we propose a biomechanical approach of the implications of ‘death roll’ in fossil crocodylomorphs. We suggest that Deinosuchus and Purussaurus were able to execute death roll over dinosaurs and large mammals, respectively, but Sarcosuchus probably was not. We also found some allometry effects and, finally, we discuss palaeobiological implications based on our results.

Link

Thanks Blaze. Not at all surprised Purussaurus could perform the death roll, it has such a wide and massive head. I think pound for pound, it was the probably the most formidable ancient crocodilian, if not necessarily the largest.

[Grey]

Feb 3, 2014 12:30:10 GMT 5 blaze said:

Looking at it, Purussaurus has quite clearly the most voluminous, massive skull around but in Foffa et al. while comparing P. kevanis skull with other reptiles, they report Deinosuchus skull at around 1.85 m ?

[blaze]

They probably didn't read anything newer than Colder and Bird (1954) original description of Phobosuchus (=Deinosuchus) riograndensis, it's often misquoted as them having reconstructed an skull "6 feet long" when what they estimated to be that length was the lower jaw, the dorsocranial length they estimate for the skull itself is actually 1500mm but it doesn't really matter, their reconstruction is inaccurate and their specimen wasn't even that big.

[Infinity Blade]

www.sci-news.com/paleontology/article01092-crocodile-venezuela-globidentosuchus-crocodylus.html

They mention a supposed 39 foot crocodile taxon in Late Miocene Venezuela (they claim ~9-5 mya). Anyone have any potential accurate light to shed on this?

[blaze]

Purussaurus mirandai, described in 2006 from the Late Miocene Urumaco Formation, age and locality match, it has to be it, the size is wrong but you know how these things are.

[Grey]

Just based on the volume of the skull, even if it's highly speculative and subject to fluctuation, can we suggest than that Purussaurus is the biggest (heaviest) crocodilian to date ?

[theropod]

Skull volume is not necessarily indicative of body size.

[Grey]

I fairly know but unless there is a vast discrepancy in the volumentric ratio skull/body between Deinosuchus and Purussaurus, I find the skull of Purussaurus vastly bigger on the chart. I've also precised on a highly speculative thought.