Welcome to Acherontisuchus
Name Definition
Acheron crocodile
Name Given By
Hastings et al., 2011
Location
Cerrejón Formation of Colombia
Classification
Reptilia, Neosuchia, Tethysuchia, Dyrosauridae (not to be confused with Dryosauridae)
Size
4.66 - 6.46 meters long, about 1.25 tons
Temporal Range
Peligran - Riochican stages of the Paleocene epoch in the Paleogene period, about 60 - 58 million years ago
Ecological niche
large piscivore/carnivore
Species/Sub Species
A. guajiraensis
Diet
Acherontisuchus would have most likely fed on aquatic animals like eels and lungfish
Introduction
Acherontisuchus is a genus of dyrosaurid neosuchians that lived in Colombia during the Paleocene epoch. Although Acherontisuchus is only known from 6 specimens in different parts of the body, it is possible that these are of the same individual. Acherontisuchus can be differentiated from its relatives by some factors. First, Acherontisuchus is considered a longirostrine (long snouted) dyrosaurid, but its skull is shorter than other dyrosaurids like Dyrosuchus or Atlantosuchus. Second, Acherontisuchus grew to a relatively large size for a dyrosaurid, while its skull length is around 80 cm which is mid sized for a dyrosaurid. If this is true, then the scattering would have been caused by some natural forces or scavengers once it died since it was a bigger animal. Acherontisuchus would have lived in shallow, inland freshwater habitat in the rainforests of Paleogene Colombia along with one of its relatives Cerrojonisuchus (named after the Cerrejón Formation) who was also in the Dyrosauridae family, because most dyrosaurids were adapted to a freshwater lifestyle. Based on the shape of the ribs and limb bones, this indicates that Acherontisuchus also had muscles along its back and legs adapted to walking on land. In these inland rivers, lungfish and eels were present which were probably Acherontisuchus’ main source of food.