What is thalattosuchus?

Thalattosuchus is an extinct genus of marine crocodylomorph that lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. It was first discovered in the Kimmeridge Clay Formation of the UK in 1909. The name "Thalattosuchus" means "sea crocodile" in Greek.

Thalattosuchus is known from several fossil specimens, and it was about 4 meters (13 feet) long. It had a long, narrow snout, similar to that of a modern gharial, with sharp teeth adapted for catching fish, its primary prey. Thalattosuchus also had webbed feet and a powerful tail for swimming, but it probably spent most of its time in shallow water or on land.

Thalattosuchus is an important species for understanding the evolution of crocodylomorphs and their adaptation to marine environments. It is one of several extinct groups of crocodilians that adapted to life in the water, and it has similarities to modern-day crocodiles, sea turtles, and dolphins.