Suchus

Suchus is a historical genus designation that appeared in early crocodilian taxonomy. In 19th- and early 20th-century literature, Suchus was applied to several African crocodylian forms and their fossil relatives. Over time, taxonomic revisions largely consolidated these taxa within other genera, and Suchus came to be treated as a junior synonym of Crocodylus in many modern classifications.

As a result, most species formerly placed in Suchus are now classified under Crocodylus, including the Nile crocodile, which in some schemes is referred to as Crocodylus niloticus. The name Suchus thus survives primarily in historical or paleontological discussions, where it is noted as part of the early history of crocodile systematics rather than as a valid, widely used genus today.

In paleontological contexts, Suchus appears in descriptions of fossil crocodilians from Africa and surrounding regions. However, contemporary taxonomic practice generally favors Crocodylus or other crocodilian genera, and Suchus is not commonly treated as a valid genus in current reference works. The terminology reflects evolving understanding of crocodilian relationships rather than a change in the organisms themselves.

See also: Crocodylus, Nile crocodile, Egyptian crocodile, taxonomy, synonymy.