Pristichampsus
Encyclopedia
Pristichampsus is an extinct genus of pristichampsid crocodylian that grew to approximately three metres (10 ft) in length.
Several remains of Pristichampsus have been found around the world, including P. rollinatii, the type species from the Lutetian
of France; and P. vorax from the Middle Eocene of Wyoming and West Texas. Other species have been described, including P. birjukovi and P. kuznetzovi from the Middle Eocene of Eastern Kazakhstan and P. geiseltalensis and P. magnifrons from the Lutetian
of Germany. The smaller pristichampsid Planocrania
, which includes the species P. hengdongensis (Paleocene) and P. datangensis (Paleocene or Early Eocene) from China, is sometimes included within Pristichampsus.
, and long limbs suggesting a cursorial
(i.e. running) habitus. It also had hoof-like toes, suggesting that it lived more on land than in the water, and that it therefore probably hunted terrestrial mammal
s. Pristichampsuss teeth were ziphodont; i.e., laterally compressed, sharp, and with serrated edges (characteristic of terrestrial crocodilians that are unable to dispatch their prey by drowning them). Due to their similarity to those of certain theropod dinosaur
s they were initially mistaken for theropod teeth, leading paleontologists to believe that some non-avian dinosaurs survived the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event
.
The species P. rollinatii shows further features adapting the animal to this lifestyle. The tail was more reminiscent of a dinosaur's, being round in cross-section and lacking the osteoderm
crest observed in extant crocodile species. It would also have been capable of gallop
ing and facultative bipedalism. However, this would only have been possible at high speeds as the centre of gravity moves in front of the pelvis.
, in which it escapes through a time anomaly in the British Museum
before making its way through London
.
Pristichampsus, identified as "hoofed crocodile", is listed in the History Channel special The Link as one of three evolutionary dead-ends that was a contemporary of Darwinius
, the others being Gastornis
and Leptictidium
.
Several remains of Pristichampsus have been found around the world, including P. rollinatii, the type species from the Lutetian
Lutetian
The Lutetian is, in the geologic timescale, a stage or age in the Eocene. It spans the time between and . The Lutetian is preceded by the Ypresian and is followed by the Bartonian. Together with the Bartonian it is sometimes referred to as the Middle Eocene subepoch...
of France; and P. vorax from the Middle Eocene of Wyoming and West Texas. Other species have been described, including P. birjukovi and P. kuznetzovi from the Middle Eocene of Eastern Kazakhstan and P. geiseltalensis and P. magnifrons from the Lutetian
Lutetian
The Lutetian is, in the geologic timescale, a stage or age in the Eocene. It spans the time between and . The Lutetian is preceded by the Ypresian and is followed by the Bartonian. Together with the Bartonian it is sometimes referred to as the Middle Eocene subepoch...
of Germany. The smaller pristichampsid Planocrania
Planocrania
Planocrania is an extinct genus of eusuchian crocodylian. Planocrania is included in the family Pristichampsidae along with the genus Pristichampsus. Both genera were previously assigned to the subfamily Pristichampsinae within the family Crocodylidae before they were placed in their own family,...
, which includes the species P. hengdongensis (Paleocene) and P. datangensis (Paleocene or Early Eocene) from China, is sometimes included within Pristichampsus.
Description and habits
Pristichampsus had heavily armoured skinOsteoderm
Osteoderms are bony deposits forming scales, plates or other structures in the dermal layers of the skin. Osteoderms are found in many groups of extant and extinct reptiles, including lizards, various groups of dinosaurs , crocodilians, phytosaurs, aetosaurs, placodonts, and hupehsuchians...
, and long limbs suggesting a cursorial
Cursorial
Cursorial is a biological term that describes an organism as being adapted specifically to run. It is typically used in conjunction with an animal's feeding habits or another important adaptation. For example, a horse can be considered a "cursorial grazer", while a wolf may be considered a...
(i.e. running) habitus. It also had hoof-like toes, suggesting that it lived more on land than in the water, and that it therefore probably hunted terrestrial mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s. Pristichampsuss teeth were ziphodont; i.e., laterally compressed, sharp, and with serrated edges (characteristic of terrestrial crocodilians that are unable to dispatch their prey by drowning them). Due to their similarity to those of certain theropod dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s they were initially mistaken for theropod teeth, leading paleontologists to believe that some non-avian dinosaurs survived the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event
Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event
The Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, formerly named and still commonly referred to as the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event, occurred approximately 65.5 million years ago at the end of the Maastrichtian age of the Cretaceous period. It was a large-scale mass extinction of animal and plant...
.
The species P. rollinatii shows further features adapting the animal to this lifestyle. The tail was more reminiscent of a dinosaur's, being round in cross-section and lacking the osteoderm
Osteoderm
Osteoderms are bony deposits forming scales, plates or other structures in the dermal layers of the skin. Osteoderms are found in many groups of extant and extinct reptiles, including lizards, various groups of dinosaurs , crocodilians, phytosaurs, aetosaurs, placodonts, and hupehsuchians...
crest observed in extant crocodile species. It would also have been capable of gallop
Gallop
Gallop is an asymmetrical gait used at high speeds by quadrupedal organisms such as the gait seen in the horse.Gallop may also refer to:*Conductor gallop, wind-induced low frequency oscillation of overhead transmission lines...
ing and facultative bipedalism. However, this would only have been possible at high speeds as the centre of gravity moves in front of the pelvis.
In popular culture
A Pristichampsus appeared in a Season 3 episode of PrimevalPrimeval
Primeval or primæval may refer to:* Primeval, a British science fiction television series.* Primeval , a 2007 film* Primeval , a score of music from the BBC TV series Doctor Who...
, in which it escapes through a time anomaly in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
before making its way through London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Pristichampsus, identified as "hoofed crocodile", is listed in the History Channel special The Link as one of three evolutionary dead-ends that was a contemporary of Darwinius
Darwinius
Darwinius is a genus of Adapiformes, a group of basal primates from the Eocene epoch. Its only known species is Darwinius masillae, dated to 47 million years ago based on dating of the fossil site....
, the others being Gastornis
Gastornis
Gastornis is an extinct genus of large flightless bird that lived during the late Paleocene and Eocene epochs of the Cenozoic. It was named in 1855, after Gaston Planté, who had discovered the first fossils in Argile Plastique formation deposits at Meudon near Paris...
and Leptictidium
Leptictidium
Leptictidium is an extinct genus of small mammals; together with macropods and humans, they are the only known completely bipedal mammals. Comprising five species, they resembled today's elephant shrews...
.