Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes is a clade of crurotarsan archosaurs, the group often traditionally referred to as "crocodilians". They are the first members of Crocodylomorpha to possess many of the features that define later relatives. They are the only pseudosuchians to survive the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.

Crocodyliformes

LiterallyMiguel · CC BY 4.0 · via Wikipedia/Commons. May be a photograph of a specimen, or an artist’s reconstruction — an interpretation of a skeleton, since colour and soft tissue are almost never preserved.

On record

Recorded, not inferred
Sits inside
SolidocraniaPBDB
Diet
carnivorePBDB, for Pseudosuchia
Motility
actively mobilePBDB, for Osteichthyes
Environment
terrestrialPBDB, for Diapsida

Time the record covers

At least 227 million years on record.

The record covers at least 227.3 Mya to 11.7 ka. No occurrence read is dated outside 237 Mya to 0 Mya.

Middle Triassic — about 0 of 4940 occurrencesLate Triassic — about 10 of 4940 occurrencesLate TriassicEarly Jurassic — about 36 of 4940 occurrencesEarly JurassicMiddle Jurassic — about 74 of 4940 occurrencesLate Jurassic — about 224 of 4940 occurrencesEarly Cretaceous — about 554 of 4940 occurrencesEarly CretaceousLate Cretaceous — about 1450 of 4940 occurrencesLate CretaceousPaleocene — about 334 of 4940 occurrencesEocene — about 653 of 4940 occurrencesEoceneOligocene — about 153 of 4940 occurrencesMiocene — about 842 of 4940 occurrencesPliocene — about 155 of 4940 occurrencesPleistocene — about 380 of 4940 occurrences242–234 Mya — about 0.9 occurrences234–226 Mya — about 2 occurrences226–218 Mya — about 2 occurrences218–210 Mya — about 2 occurrences210–201 Mya — about 4 occurrences201–193 Mya — about 28 occurrences193–185 Mya — about 6 occurrences185–177 Mya — about 2 occurrences177–169 Mya — about 6 occurrences169–161 Mya — about 69 occurrences161–153 Mya — about 32 occurrences153–145 Mya — about 155 occurrences145–137 Mya — about 130 occurrences137–129 Mya — about 51 occurrences129–121 Mya — about 165 occurrences121–113 Mya — about 107 occurrences113–105 Mya — about 89 occurrences105–97 Mya — about 147 occurrences97–89 Mya — about 116 occurrences89–81 Mya — about 193 occurrences81–73 Mya — about 338 occurrences73–64 Mya — about 788 occurrences64–56 Mya — about 230 occurrences56–48 Mya — about 325 occurrences48–40 Mya — about 202 occurrences40–32 Mya — about 160 occurrences32–24 Mya — about 113 occurrences24–16 Mya — about 255 occurrences16–8.1 Mya — about 472 occurrences8.1–0 Mya — about 749 occurrences227.3 Mya11.7 ka242 Mya0 Mya

4,940 occurrences of Crocodyliformes on record, most of them in the Late Cretaceous. The Paleobiology Database records this as a living group. Bar height is expected occurrences, not a count: each fossil is spread across the span it is dated to, so a tall narrow bar means tight dating and a low wide one means loose.

When

4,940 occurrences

These are dates about fossils, not the animal: the record can only begin after it arose and end before it died out, so either end may reach further. Shares are expected occurrences: a fossil dated to a span is counted partly in each period it straddles. More on what this infers.

Found in

839 formations

Hell Creek — 47.80°N, 106.10°WHell Creek — 47.68°N, 106.43°WHell Creek — 45.95°N, 103.96°WHell Creek — 46.10°N, 103.30°WHell Creek — 45.98°N, 103.75°WHell Creek — 46.41°N, 103.94°WHell Creek — 46.38°N, 103.96°WHell Creek — 46.18°N, 103.84°WHell Creek — 46.14°N, 103.80°WHell Creek — 46.46°N, 104.02°WHell Creek — 46.33°N, 103.90°WHell Creek — 45.94°N, 103.95°WHell Creek — 45.53°N, 101.63°WHell Creek — 47.55°N, 107.13°WHell Creek — 47.62°N, 107.32°WHell Creek — 47.52°N, 106.98°WHell Creek — 47.57°N, 107.10°WHell Creek — 47.52°N, 106.40°WHell Creek — 47.58°N, 106.30°WHell Creek — 47.55°N, 107.25°WHell Creek — 47.60°N, 106.43°WHell Creek — 47.53°N, 106.92°WHell Creek — 47.07°N, 106.92°WHell Creek — 47.60°N, 107.23°WHell Creek — 46.90°N, 101.50°WHell Creek — 46.09°N, 100.63°WHell Creek — 47.60°N, 107.00°WHell Creek — 47.32°N, 107.15°WHell Creek — 47.95°N, 105.63°WHell Creek — 46.33°N, 104.01°WHell Creek — 45.83°N, 103.90°WHell Creek — 46.41°N, 103.50°WHell Creek — 46.24°N, 107.38°WHell Creek — 47.64°N, 106.57°WHell Creek — 45.66°N, 105.08°WHell Creek — 45.89°N, 104.55°WHell Creek — 45.50°N, 103.10°WHell Creek — 45.64°N, 103.49°WHell Creek — 45.95°N, 104.92°WHell Creek — 45.00°N, 103.19°WHell Creek — 46.00°N, 103.19°WWillwood — 43.95°N, 107.57°WWillwood — 44.30°N, 109.00°WWillwood — 44.83°N, 109.09°WWillwood — 44.63°N, 108.89°WWillwood — 44.44°N, 108.63°WWillwood — 44.50°N, 108.67°WWillwood — 44.56°N, 108.70°WWillwood — 44.59°N, 108.62°WWillwood — 44.53°N, 108.43°WWillwood — 44.37°N, 108.67°WWillwood — 44.65°N, 108.54°WWillwood — 44.60°N, 108.32°WWillwood — 44.59°N, 108.41°WWillwood — 44.53°N, 108.32°WWillwood — 44.65°N, 108.72°WWillwood — 44.65°N, 108.54°WWillwood — 44.52°N, 108.57°WWillwood — 44.65°N, 108.90°WWillwood — 44.65°N, 108.83°WWillwood — 44.64°N, 108.76°WWillwood — 44.41°N, 108.79°WWillwood — 44.33°N, 108.77°WWillwood — 43.92°N, 108.66°WWillwood — 44.10°N, 108.03°WWillwood — 44.28°N, 108.58°WWillwood — 44.30°N, 108.20°WSolimões — 8.78°S, 68.90°WSolimões — 10.13°S, 67.81°WSolimões — 9.08°S, 68.67°WSolimões — 8.16°S, 70.55°WSolimões — 9.05°S, 68.77°WSolimões — 7.84°S, 69.15°WSolimões — 8.24°S, 70.42°WSolimões — 9.03°S, 69.47°WSolimões — 9.43°S, 70.51°WSolimões — 9.09°S, 69.86°WSolimões — 9.12°S, 70.13°WSolimões — 9.22°S, 69.91°WSolimões — 9.15°S, 70.23°WSolimões — 9.33°S, 70.37°WSolimões — 9.37°S, 69.94°WSolimões — 8.79°S, 67.47°WSolimões — 9.19°S, 68.70°WSolimões — 9.27°S, 68.71°WSolimões — 9.40°S, 68.74°WSolimões — 10.15°S, 69.30°WSolimões — 10.21°S, 69.38°WSolimões — 10.30°S, 69.48°WSolimões — 10.98°S, 69.71°WSolimões — 10.95°S, 69.66°WSolimões — 10.94°S, 69.52°WSolimões — 10.94°S, 69.43°WSolimões — 10.94°S, 69.35°WSolimões — 7.61°S, 73.39°WSolimões — 8.18°S, 72.78°WSolimões — 8.98°S, 72.75°WSolimões — 9.13°S, 72.70°WSolimões — 9.20°S, 72.72°WSolimões — 9.39°S, 72.72°WSolimões — 8.24°S, 73.26°WSolimões — 8.29°S, 73.25°WSolimões — 8.37°S, 72.81°WSolimões — 8.83°S, 72.78°WSolimões — 8.86°S, 72.77°WSolimões — 8.99°S, 72.76°WSolimões — 9.28°S, 72.69°WSolimões — 11.00°S, 68.77°WSolimões — 6.50°S, 69.67°WMorrison — 39.15°N, 108.77°WMorrison — 40.42°N, 109.21°WMorrison — 41.91°N, 105.96°WMorrison — 38.54°N, 105.22°WMorrison — 41.88°N, 106.11°WMorrison — 39.68°N, 105.19°WMorrison — 41.99°N, 106.08°WMorrison — 41.97°N, 106.29°WMorrison — 41.88°N, 105.89°WMorrison — 44.18°N, 103.34°WMorrison — 44.46°N, 104.73°WMorrison — 38.81°N, 108.32°WMorrison — 38.32°N, 108.83°WMorrison — 40.44°N, 109.30°WMorrison — 39.17°N, 108.77°WMorrison — 38.85°N, 108.48°WMorrison — 39.24°N, 109.00°WMorrison — 36.92°N, 102.98°WMorrison — 42.16°N, 105.91°WMorrison — 42.04°N, 106.39°WMorrison — 40.50°N, 109.17°WMorrison — 44.02°N, 104.24°WMorrison — 37.31°N, 103.52°WMorrison — 38.58°N, 108.40°WMorrison — 42.02°N, 106.05°WMorrison — 38.45°N, 107.40°WMorrison — 39.32°N, 110.69°WMorrison — 41.92°N, 106.36°WMorrison — 40.46°N, 108.39°WMorrison — 43.62°N, 108.18°WMorrison — 42.53°N, 106.76°WMorrison — 38.34°N, 109.10°WMorrison — 42.73°N, 108.58°WMorrison — 35.53°N, 106.90°WMorrison — 39.01°N, 111.02°WMorrison — 40.30°N, 108.57°WMorrison — 40.27°N, 108.68°WKoobi Fora — 3.90°N, 36.24°EKoobi Fora — 3.98°N, 36.32°EKoobi Fora — 4.31°N, 36.27°EKoobi Fora — 4.24°N, 36.26°EKoobi Fora — 4.29°N, 36.23°EKoobi Fora — 3.77°N, 36.44°EKoobi Fora — 3.78°N, 36.33°EKoobi Fora — 3.59°N, 36.24°EKoobi Fora — 3.87°N, 36.37°EKoobi Fora — 3.94°N, 36.25°EKoobi Fora — 4.18°N, 36.42°EKoobi Fora — 4.08°N, 36.35°EKoobi Fora — 4.07°N, 36.37°EUrumaco — 11.22°N, 70.24°WUrumaco — 11.24°N, 70.31°WUrumaco — 11.27°N, 70.22°WUrumaco — 11.38°N, 69.93°WUrumaco — 11.17°S, 70.30°WUrumaco — 11.20°N, 70.36°WDenver — 39.70°N, 104.70°WDenver — 38.91°N, 104.53°WDenver — 39.50°N, 104.70°WDenver — 39.30°N, 104.30°WLance — 43.35°N, 104.48°WLance — 43.30°N, 104.37°WLance — 44.77°N, 100.70°WLance — 43.12°N, 104.64°WLance — 41.57°N, 108.67°WLance — 41.57°N, 108.65°WLance — 43.18°N, 104.53°WLance — 43.15°N, 104.57°WLance — 43.13°N, 104.49°WLance — 43.80°N, 104.62°WLance — 45.75°N, 101.20°WLance — 45.04°N, 108.80°WLance — 43.00°N, 104.50°WLance — 43.27°N, 104.62°WLance — 43.27°N, 104.65°WLance — 43.43°N, 105.05°WLance — 45.67°N, 101.48°WLance — 45.39°N, 103.70°WLance — 41.91°N, 104.20°WLance — 43.49°N, 104.46°WCloverly — 44.51°N, 107.90°WCloverly — 43.73°N, 108.33°WCloverly — 45.34°N, 108.81°WCloverly — 44.69°N, 108.24°WCloverly — 44.98°N, 108.32°WCloverly — 45.45°N, 108.10°WCloverly — 45.44°N, 108.14°WCloverly — 45.26°N, 108.41°WCloverly — 44.04°N, 107.51°WCloverly — 44.65°N, 107.88°WCloverly — 44.50°N, 107.82°WCloverly — 44.47°N, 109.05°WCloverly — 44.44°N, 109.06°WCloverly — 45.19°N, 108.80°WCloverly — 45.80°N, 109.80°WCloverly — 45.49°N, 108.73°WCloverly — 45.10°N, 106.90°WPebas — 3.99°S, 73.17°WPebas — 4.01°S, 73.37°WPebas — 4.30°S, 73.46°WPebas — 7.36°S, 74.96°WPebas — 4.01°S, 73.03°WPebas — 2.81°S, 73.55°WPebas — 3.74°S, 73.25°WAdamantina — 21.10°S, 49.28°WAdamantina — 21.94°S, 51.37°WAdamantina — 25.73°S, 48.58°WAdamantina — 22.05°S, 51.55°WAdamantina — 21.44°S, 50.17°WAdamantina — 20.57°S, 50.47°WAdamantina — 20.34°S, 50.55°WAdamantina — 21.22°S, 48.57°WAdamantina — 17.70°S, 40.77°WAdamantina — 19.34°S, 49.92°WAdamantina — 22.31°S, 50.03°WAdamantina — 19.51°S, 50.11°WAdamantina — 21.57°S, 51.35°WAdamantina — 21.30°S, 48.48°WAdamantina — 22.34°S, 49.95°WAdamantina — 21.17°S, 48.50°WAdamantina — 21.14°S, 48.97°WAdamantina — 22.12°S, 51.37°WAdamantina — 20.35°S, 49.28°WAdamantina — 21.64°S, 50.06°WAdamantina — 20.28°S, 50.25°WAdamantina — 21.33°S, 48.58°WAdamantina — 19.44°S, 49.26°WAdamantina — 18.34°S, 50.48°WAdamantina — 20.92°S, 50.45°WAdamantina — 22.00°S, 49.00°WDinosaur Park — 50.81°N, 111.32°WDinosaur Park — 50.73°N, 111.53°WDinosaur Park — 50.81°N, 111.63°WDinosaur Park — 49.12°N, 110.47°WDinosaur Park — 50.75°N, 111.48°WDinosaur Park — 50.75°N, 111.40°WDinosaur Park — 49.07°N, 110.45°WDinosaur Park — 50.56°N, 111.46°WDinosaur Park — 50.68°N, 108.09°WDinosaur Park — 50.51°N, 110.39°WMaevarano — 15.91°S, 46.58°EMaevarano — 15.72°S, 46.32°EMaevarano — 15.98°S, 46.05°EMaevarano — 16.12°S, 45.74°EMaevarano — 16.13°S, 45.63°EFerris — 41.94°N, 106.88°WFerris — 41.80°N, 107.00°WFerris — 41.96°N, 106.89°WFort Union — 44.91°N, 108.93°WFort Union — 44.68°N, 108.34°WFort Union — 44.68°N, 108.35°WFort Union — 44.67°N, 108.45°WFort Union — 43.85°N, 108.35°WFort Union — 44.30°N, 109.00°WFort Union — 46.05°N, 104.48°WFort Union — 46.90°N, 101.50°WFort Union — 47.60°N, 107.00°WOldman — 50.75°N, 111.51°WOldman — 49.10°N, 110.94°WOldman — 49.08°N, 110.84°WOldman — 49.08°N, 110.68°WOldman — 49.16°N, 110.72°WOldman — 50.83°N, 111.32°WOldman — 50.48°N, 111.38°WOldman — 49.36°N, 110.58°WBridger — 42.37°N, 108.91°WBridger — 42.42°N, 109.35°WBridger — 41.13°N, 110.13°WBridger — 41.70°N, 109.00°WBridger — 41.80°N, 110.70°WBridger — 41.20°N, 110.50°WBridger — 41.27°N, 110.34°WBridger — 41.27°N, 109.93°WBridger — 41.04°N, 110.23°WAguja — 29.32°N, 103.52°WAguja — 29.20°N, 103.55°WAguja — 29.10°N, 103.17°WAguja — 29.29°N, 103.55°WAguja — 29.16°N, 103.16°WEl Castellar — 40.67°N, 0.67°WEl Castellar — 40.66°N, 0.87°WEl Castellar — 40.58°N, 0.69°WEl Castellar — 40.62°N, 0.84°WEl Castellar — 40.46°N, 0.74°WEl Castellar — 40.44°N, 0.73°WPozo — 7.33°S, 74.95°WPozo — 7.33°S, 74.95°WPozo — 6.57°S, 76.27°WCedar Mountain — 38.83°N, 109.57°WCedar Mountain — 39.05°N, 111.04°WCedar Mountain — 38.72°N, 109.69°WCedar Mountain — 38.69°N, 111.26°WCedar Mountain — 38.91°N, 110.10°WCedar Mountain — 38.73°N, 109.59°WCedar Mountain — 38.83°N, 109.47°WCedar Mountain — 38.83°N, 109.27°WCedar Mountain — 38.88°N, 111.27°WCedar Mountain — 39.00°N, 111.00°WCedar Mountain — 38.64°N, 111.37°WCedar Mountain — 38.66°N, 111.24°WSolimoes — 10.12°S, 66.88°WSolimoes — 10.93°S, 69.09°WSolimoes — 8.18°S, 70.48°WSolimoes — 9.07°S, 68.66°WSolimoes — 9.02°S, 68.81°WSolimoes — 7.66°S, 72.54°WSolimoes — 10.94°S, 69.34°WDensuș-Ciula — 45.60°N, 22.85°EDensuș-Ciula — 45.63°N, 22.90°ELourinhã — 39.45°N, 9.21°WLourinhã — 39.24°N, 9.34°WLourinhã — 39.28°N, 9.33°WLourinhã — 39.85°N, 8.62°W

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The named rock units Crocodyliformes has been recovered from, largest first. Drawn where the rock is now, not where it formed. 815 further formations hold fewer occurrences each and are not listed. 864 occurrences have no formation on record, which is common for older literature.

Crocodyliformes and its relatives

Late Cretaceous

Where Crocodyliformes and its relatives were recorded in the Late Cretaceous.

Found in the same rock

2,908 taxa

The Paleobiology Database records at least 1,479 sites for Crocodyliformes, and this reads 240 of them. The number is how many of those sites it was catalogued from too. The 24 sharing the most are listed.

This is not a list of everything alive at the time. It is only what has come out of the same ground as this animal and been written down.

Entered from

1,917 references

Each of the 4,940 occurrences read was entered from one of these publications, ordered by how many each accounts for. This is not a search for papers mentioning the name. 1,905 further references are not listed. Entries link to doi.org where the Paleobiology Database holds an identifier, and to its own record where it does not. Relayed as the Paleobiology Database holds them, not checked against what they resolve to.

Media and terms

Media content2

Picture of Crocodyliformes

Credit
LiterallyMiguel
Licence
CC BY 4.0
Commercial use
the licence allows it

3D model

Source
Sketchfab
Licence
CC Attribution
Commercial use
cannot be read from the licence given — check the record

Smithsonian Open Access and MorphoSource were not reached for this taxon, so this list is what the others held rather than everything there is.

The description on this site

Licence
CC BY-SA 4.0

This is what the site found, which is not the same as what exists.

Keep going

What may have been alongside itSolidocrania through timeFormations of the Late CretaceousThe world it lived on

Occurrence data from the Paleobiology Database, CC BY 4.0. (Hay 1930)