Cenaransuch

Cenaransuchus was a genus of large, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago. It is known from a single species, Cenaransuchus laticaudus, which was discovered in the Cenomanian-age rocks of the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania. The name Cenaransuchus means "Cenaran crocodile," referring to the Cenaran people of Tanzania, and suchus, the Greek word for crocodile, due to its crocodile-like skull.

Cenaransuchus is one of the largest known dinosaurs, with an estimated length of around 12 meters (39 feet) and a weight of up to 10 metric tons (11 tons). It had a long, low skull with a distinctive crest on the snout, which may have been used for display or defense. The skull was adorned with numerous small, bony plates, similar to those found on some modern crocodilians. The body of Cenaransuchus was robust, with powerful hind limbs adapted for walking and running on land.

The diet of Cenaransuchus is thought to have consisted primarily of plants, as indicated by the presence of plant material in its gut contents. It may have been a browser, feeding on leaves and twigs from trees and shrubs. The long, low skull and powerful jaws suggest that Cenaransuchus was well-adapted for feeding on tough, fibrous plant material.

Cenaransuchus is an important addition to our understanding of Late Cretaceous dinosaur diversity and ecology. Its large size and herbivorous diet make it a key component of the Tendaguru ecosystem, and its unique skull morphology provides valuable insights into the evolution of dinosaur skull structure. Despite its large size, Cenaransuchus is relatively poorly known, with only a single specimen having been described to date. Further discoveries are likely to shed more light on this fascinating dinosaur.