Sarcosuchus is an extinct genus of crocodyliform and distant relative of living crocodilians that lived during the Early Cretaceous, from the late Hauterivian to the late Cenomanian, 133 to 93 million years ago of what are now North Africa and South America. The genus name comes from the Greek σάρξ (sarx) meaning flesh and σοῦχος (souchus) meaning crocodile. It was one of the largest pseudosuchians, with the largest specimen of S. imperator reaching approximately 9–9.5 metres (29.5–31.2 ft) long and weighing up to 3.45–4.3 metric tons. It is known from two species; S. imperator from the early Albian Elrhaz Formation of Niger, and S. hartti from the Late Hauterivian of northeastern Brazil. Other material is known from Morocco and Tunisia and possibly Libya and Mali.
Sarcosuchus
Life restoration of Sarcosuchus imperator
Scutes of S. imperator
Reconstructed S. imperator skeleton from behind at the Indianapolis Children's Museum
The Elrhaz Formation is a geological formation in Niger, West Africa.
Reconstructed skeleton of an anhanguerid from the formation
Dinosaurs of Elrhaz formation
Neoceratodus forsteri, a modern species
Image: Anatosuchus BW