Pallimnarchus Temporal range: Pliocene - |
|
---|---|
Pallimnarchus pollens | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Crocodilia |
Family: | Crocodylidae |
Subfamily: | †Mekosuchinae |
Genus: |
†Pallimnarchus De Vis, 1886 |
Species | |
|
Pallimnarchus is an extinct genus of mekosuchine crocodylians from the Pliocene and of Australia. Remains of this animal have been found in the Riversleigh lagerstätte of northwestern Queensland. It was a medium-sized crocodile, estimated to grow up to 5 metres in length. It had conical teeth with serrate carinae, and an extremely broad snout, features that probably allowed it to specialise in ambushing prey in shallow water.
The generic name, Pallimnarchus, is derived from a crasis compound word of Pan, Limnos and Archon, which together mean "ruler of all the swamps".