dobrogicus

Dobrogicus is an extinct genus of crocodyliform reptile known from fossil material found in Europe, named after the Dobrogea region of southeastern Romania. The available remains include skull fragments, possible jaw elements, and osteoderms, which together suggest a long-snouted form that may have been piscivorous. The geographic and stratigraphic range of the genus includes several European localities, with dating placed in a broad window from the Late Cretaceous into the Paleogene in different studies; exact ages vary by site and interpretation. The specimens indicate a range of body sizes within the group, from small to moderately large for crocodyliforms.

Taxonomically, Dobrogicus has traditionally been regarded as a long-snouted crocodyliform related to gavialoids, but its precise position is debated. Some analyses have questioned the monophyly of the genus or proposed reassignments of certain species to other crocodyliform taxa, reflecting ongoing revisions in European crocodilian paleontology. The morphology of the jaw and teeth points to a specialized feeding strategy, likely involving fish and other small aquatic prey, with a pursuit-oriented hunting style suited to freshwater or estuarine environments.

Paleobiology and paleoecology suggest that Dobrogicus inhabited riverine and floodplain systems in Europe, coexisting with a diverse assemblage of aquatic vertebrates. Its eventual disappearance fits a broader pattern of crocodyliform turnover in the Cenozoic, as ecological niches shifted and newer crocodilian lineages emerged.