The first atoposaurid crocodile from Scotland

What is it about?

We report on the first and oldest crocodile fossil from the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It belongs to a particular group called Atoposauridae, and belongs to the genus Theriosuchus. This genus has a pretty complex history of naming, and this specimen helps to provide some insight into their evolutionary history and relationships.

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Why is it important?

It is the oldest member of Atoposauridae, an important but extinct group of crocodiles. It is also the first crocodile fossil to be reported from Scotland, and comes from a time (the Middle Jurassic) when fossils of this group are very rare.