0.6" Champsosaurus Gigas Reptile Fossil Vertebrae Cretaceous Hell Creek FM MT COA
Location: Hell Creek Formation, Glendive, Montana (Private Land Origin)
Weight: 0.2 Ounces
Dimensions: 0.6 Inches Long, 0.6 Inches Wide, 0.5 Inches Thick
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The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Name: Champsosaurus (Crocodile lizard).
Diet: Carnivore/piscivore.
Size: Depending upon the species, anywhere between 1.5 and 3.5 meters long. Known locations: Canada and the USA.
Although Champsosaurus resembled a crocodile and probably lived like one, the genus was actually a member of the Choristodera. This is a separate group of diapsid reptiles, which means that despite their physical similarity, Champsosaurus was not related to modern crocodiles. Among all modern crocodile types, Champsosaurus is most similar to the gharial. Its long, thin snout may suggest a specialization for hunting smaller organisms like fish. The rear part of the skull, however, is significantly expanded, allowing for the attachment of large jaw-closing muscles. This could indicate that Champsosaurus had a surprisingly powerful bite for its narrow snout. Alternatively, it might mean that the muscles were designed for quick action rather than strength, enabling the jaws to close swiftly around fast-moving prey. Champsosaurus has a long taxonomic history dating back to the ‘bone wars,’ a rivalry between Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope in North America during the late nineteenth century. Currently, there are seven recognized species of Champsosaurus, though many more were once named in the past. Nearly a hundred and fifty years of research have led to some of these species being identified as synonyms. Many Champsosaurus species were modest in size, but some, like C. Gigas, could reach lengths of up to three and a half meters.
