Uberabasuchus

Uberabasuchus is an extinct genus of notosuchian crocodylomorph that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Brazil. The only known species is Uberabasuchus terrificus. It was a terrestrial predator, meaning it lived on land rather than in water, a common adaptation for many notosuchians.

The fossils of Uberabasuchus were discovered in the Uberaba Formation of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which dates back to the Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. This discovery placed it within a diverse South American fauna of the time. Uberabasuchus belonged to the family Trematochampsidae, a group of specialized crocodylomorphs known for their relatively long limbs and terrestrial lifestyle.

Uberabasuchus possessed a robust build and a relatively short, deep skull. Its teeth were adapted for shearing flesh. Like other terrestrial crocodylomorphs, it likely walked with an erect or semi-erect posture, unlike the sprawling gait of modern crocodilians. Its diet is believed to have consisted of small dinosaurs and other terrestrial vertebrates. The discovery of Uberabasuchus adds to our understanding of the evolutionary diversity of crocodylomorphs during the Mesozoic Era, particularly the unique adaptations that arose in Gondwanan faunas.