Simosuchus

Simosuchus is an extinct genus of notosuchian crocodyliform known from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. It lived in what is now the Maevarano Formation, about 70 to 66 million years ago. The type species is Simosuchus clarki.

Simosuchus is notable for its unusual morphology compared with most living crocodilians. It was relatively small-bodied, with a short, broad snout and a compact skull. Its teeth are small and peg-like, and the dentition appears to differ from typical carnivorous crocodyliforms, leading many researchers to interpret Simosuchus as herbivorous or omnivorous. The limbs are relatively short and stout, and the body appears squat, suggesting a terrestrial rather than aquatic lifestyle.

Within crocodyliforms, Simosuchus belongs to Notosuchia, a group of mostly terrestrial and sometimes unusual-dentition crocodyliforms that were diverse in Gondwana during the Cretaceous. The anatomy of Simosuchus provides insight into the ecological breadth of notosuchians, illustrating a lineage that occupied niches different from modern crocodiles.

Fossils of Simosuchus include skulls and partial skeletons recovered from the Maevarano assemblage. Since its description in the late 1990s, additional material has helped clarify its anatomy and growth, though many details about its life history remain uncertain.