Sarcosuchus, Purussaurus, Deinosuchus or Any Other Candidate?
With a Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) at an animal park in Queensland (Australia), being recognised as the largest crocodile kept in captivity, team members at Everything Dinosaur started a debate amongst themselves as to which was the largest crocodilian known from the fossil record.
Largest Crocodile Ever
Crocodiles are certainly an ancient group of reptiles, with their origins predating the dinosaurs. However, which of these animals would be classified as the largest – this might be difficult to say.
A few days ago, we reported that Cassius, an eighteen foot long “Salty” had been declared the largest crocodile in captivity by the Guinness Book of Records.
To read more about Cassius: Record Breaking Monster Crocodile.
However, a number of extinct types of crocodile are known to be much larger. Indeed, having checked with the Guinness Book of Records, the largest prehistoric crocodile (according to them), is Sarcosuchus (Sarcosuchus imperator), a member of the Eusuchia, fossils of this crocodile are known from Cretaceous strata from Niger (Africa). Although, there is a lack of fossil material, estimates of length provide a consensus that this reptile may have been ten to twelve metres long.
It has been suggested that this fearsome predator may have weighed eight tonnes. This would make Sarcosuchus (flesh crocodile) a contender for the largest type of crocodile known.
A Model of the Prehistoric Crocodile Sarcosuchus
Then there is the much more recent, South American, giant Purussaurus (Purussaurus brasiliensis). This prehistoric caiman is known from a number of fossil locations in South America (Brazil, Peru and Venezuela). An expedition to the Peruvian Amazon back in 2005 discovered more fossils and from one particular skull, which measures over fifty-five inches in length, it has been estimated that this caiman from the Miocene may have reached lengths of between ten and thirteen metres. We think this member of the crocodile family is also known as Mourasuchus amazoniensis, but this is regarded as a junior synonym.
Deinosuchus
There is also Deinosuchus (Terrible Crocodile) to consider. Deinosuchus (D. hatcheri) lived during the Late Cretaceous. Its fossils have been found in the United States. Once again size estimates are difficult to affirm. When looking at extant species today, the head length can be assessed as being approximately one eighth the size of the entire animal measured from the tip of its snout to its tail.
This is a useful guide when trying to work out the size of a crocodile or alligator when it it swimming and only a portion of the head is above the water. Using measurements taken from a huge, nearly complete skull, found in the Big Bend River formation, Texas, and described by the scientists Colbert and Bird back in the 1950s, Deinosuchus was estimated to be over fifteen metres long and to weigh in excess of eight Tonnes. Since then further analysis of fossil fragments, bones and dermal armour (scutes) has been undertaken and palaeontologists now estimate Deinosuchus to be a little smaller, but it is still a contender for the largest croc of all time.
The jaws are more robust than those of Sarcosuchus, suggesting that Deinosuchus predated upon large animals, perhaps attacking dinosaurs as they came close to water to get a drink.
Which was the Largest Crocodile?
Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur
Team members at Everything Dinosaur have had a go at producing art materials and drawings to illustrate the likely candidates for the title of largest crocodile known to science.
Recently, a group of scientists published a paper detailing their study of suspected Deinosuchus coprolites (fossilised dung), thus providing a potential insight into this reptile’s diet:
To read more about Deinosuchus and a follow up article: Ancient Crocodile Poop Provides Information on the Diet of Deinosuchus.
Update on Deinosuchus: Update on the Diet of Cretaceous Crocodiles.
The crocodiles are indeed an ancient group of reptiles, they evolved into a myriad of forms, some of these were gigantic but as to which genus was the biggest – it looks like we will be debating this for some time.
For models and replicas of prehistoric animals including many models of extinct animals from the crocodilian line of the Archosauria: Ancient Crocodiles and Prehistoric Animal Models.
Purussaurus is the biggest and heaviest.And by the way,I am a paleontologist so I am right.
Thank you for your comment, Purussaurus brasiliensis named back in the 19th Century is certainly a large crocodilian, but it is difficult to categorically state that based on the fossil evidence (Caiman neivensis, Mourasuchus amazoniensis et al), that this is the biggest and heaviest. However, you sound adamant and you probably have more knowledge in this area than we have.
Dr. Save – While I will not debate you for being right, you do not sound professional. Being a paleontologist does not necessarily make you right. A true “Doctor” or “Paleontologist” knows to space between sentences after the period. Mike provided several well thought out responses to each of your posts, while you reply with stubborn, snappy posts. You sound very stupid.
Anyway, Sarcosuchus is probably the largest in my opinion. This is an animal that daily clashed with the infamous Spinosaurus. I can assure you that Purussaurus did not get to 18 tons. This animal lived in thick forest, and large carnivores could not grow and adapt there. Therefore, Purussaurus did not NEED to grow that big. However, Sarcosuchus has been calculated at over 10 tons and had to worry about massive African predators.
Being a stubborn little brat does not take the place of critical information and a good solid point.
Harris, you are right. Not only did Sarcosuchus combat Spinosaurus, it also came across Carcharodontosaurus, an Allosaurid even longer than T. Rex. It lived in an age of giants and I doubt any of the younger crocodilians could grow any larger – the leaner oxygen content of the air and fewer, smaller food sources would have limited their sizes. In my opinion, Deinosuchus, and maybe Purussaurus, are all equal contenders, with size depending on the individual and its dominance of the local food source.
Jerry-Carcharodontosaurus is in it’s own family, known as Carcharodontosauridae, others in this family include Tyrannotitan, Giganotosaurus and Mapusaurus and more.
Harris- I didn’t think that the Sarcosuchus would be able to compare to a Spino. It’s like comparing the largest Komodo Dragon at 10 feet to the largest Crocodile at 20 feet, It’s a big difference.
The largest Spinosaurus was 60 feet in length and it weighed 22 tons meanwhile the largest Sarcosuchus was maybe 30 – 40 feet and 8.5 tons. I don’t think it was even the largest Crocodile/Alligator, it was probably the Purussaurus.
purussaurus was the biggest crocodile ever, and yes, for a crocodile that needed to eat more than 15kg of meat a day, besides having the biggest and heaviest head among all other species, thus needing a much more robust body to withstand the weight, and even today people have this view that in a closed forest, ancient animals did not grow so much…, the world at that time had an exorbitant amount of oxygen, especially in the Amazon, which was and still is the forest that produces the most oxygen on earth… so this statement doesn’t make much sense. Studies from 29 universities around the world gave the verdict that the Purussaurus could reach 13.4M and 11 tons, being the largest ever…, with studies and research you can easily put this doubt out of your head.
yeah, its not like you scientific types have ever been wrong before…
In order of size smaller to larger –
Purusaurus Neivensis
Sarcosuchus Hartti
Sarcosuchus Imperator
Dienosuchus Riograndensis
Dienosuchus Rugosus
Purusaurus Brasiliiensis
Just because you are a paleontologist doesnt mean you are right
Sarcosuchus is 10 tons.dienosuchus is 10 tons too.But purrusaurus is 18 tons!
Thanks for your input, it is always a little difficult to estimate the size of Crocodilians when working with largely fragmentary remains, for certain all three genera were certainly very big and there may be more extinct crocodile remains waiting to be discovered that could alter scientific thinking again. One puzzle for palaeontologists is why no giant marine crocodile fossils found to date? Did the Mesozoic Pliosaurs fill the apex predator niche entirely?
Nope,pliosaurs aren’t the apex predators.Sometimes mosasaurs prey on cretaceous pliosaurs.
Dr. Save, you sound like an adamant idiot. Mike, thank you for your intriguing posts. The thought of these giant crocodilian ancestors once walking the Earth is exhilarating. Seeing a live specimen of the modern relatives is intimidating enough. I just hope more considerations to their preservation is taken by governing bodies. Thank you once again!
No Dr.Save Sarcosuchus Is The Biggest Crocodile It Is On the 7th Place Of Top 10 Largest Animal Ever!!!!!!
Sar.us the biggest croc its called *SuperCroc*
How about we all say that all 3 are roughly the same size & it’s just a matter of debate on who is bigger?
It would be a tie between purussaurus and deinosuchus. Sarco isn’t a ture croc so it is bumped out of the list. Purussaurus would rech 39-40 feet in length but deinosuchus would rech 36-37 but there was been discoveries showing that it could rech 39-40 so it’s a tie
What about Kaprosuchus?
Kaprosuchus is a member of the family Mahajangasuchidae and was very much more terrestrial than the other crocodilians discussed in the article. Although, the maximum size of this reptile is debated, the largest estimates put Kaprosuchus around the six metre mark. It was considerably smaller than the reptiles cited in the article.
Well I’m only 12 years old and I got to say sarcosuchus was the biggest living crocodilian in my own opinion. It grew bigger than the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex I think… Plus it also clashed against the mightiest walking carnivore, the spinosaurus. I’m pretty sure sarcosuchus grew up to be around 40 feet of length fully grown. So that’s my reason why the sarcosuchus is the largest crocodilian in history. Unless someone discovers a larger crocodilian much larger than sarcosuchus.
Sarco isn’t a true croc and even if it was the largest one found was only 35 feet in length it also live in the a different area then the spino so they never fought.plus it is much lighter then the other two and smaller. Sarco was built to eat fish and sharks and stuff like that. Deinosuchus was built to eat fish and some small reptiles and mammals. Purussaurus was built to take down much larger pray. There weight goes into an account. Do to there weight purussaurus would be the biggest.
yeah sarcosuchus is the largest the true largest, larger than lolong.
Sarcosuchus is not a real crocodile, it’s not a member of the crocodilia.
Dienosuchus was (probably) the largest real crocodile that ever lived.
Some estimate, that Purussaurus could grow even bigger than we thought but the findings are to rare to be really sure about that.
I didnt know that Swrchosuchus wasnt part of the crocodylia order. Since this is probably true, purrussaurus or deinosuchus may have been the largest members of crocodylia.
Bruh why do we need this article. Everyone knows that Sarcosuchus is biggest. Here’s why.
It fed on small sauropods
It had to survive with some of the Largest carnivorous Dinos
It’s skull is bigger than a grown man
Sure it’s only ten tons, but that doesn’t mean it’s smaller than a 18 Tonnes. A prehistoric amphibious being weighed as much as a house cat and grew to 4 feet long! I estimate Sarcosuchus could grow to 45-50 feet, judging its skull length. FYI, I consider biggest not by weight, but by length. Im only in 4th grade, and I can tell you this. Also Dr Dave you dumb
Biggest should only be considered based on weight but ok
The amphibious being I forgot the name of. You know, the one that’s 4 feet
OK, I Recently learned that purrussaurus is an ALLIGATORIDE. So it is the heaviest CROCADYLIAN, not croc.
Also, Sarchosuchus is a Crocodile morph (I dont remember the scientific term). And if Deinasuchus is the heaviest croc, I’ll just be mad because Sarcosuchus should count as a croc. IT HAS ALL THE FEATURES PEOPLE. HOW IS It NOT A CROC
Purrasaurus is the biggest in my opinoin
Sarcosuchus I believe is an alligator because of it’s larger snout . It’s snout is about 75% of total skull.
Sarcosuchus is bigger you can look it up.
Also I’ve done a lot of studying and even if it wasn’t the largest it definitely was the toughest. It had to fight some of the strongest preadatory therapods in all of the world. And size should considered on length not weight.
Just because you looked it up doesn’t mean it’s the biggest. Many statements on the internet can be untrue. Even search engines can be wrong sometimes. Do some actual research instead of just telling people to, “Look it up.”
weight considers overall mass so while length may show one creature being longer then another the overall size of an animal depends more on weight
purussaurus brasiliensis has the biggest skull of them all and well thats all