Re: Sarcosuchus

[chris brochu <cbrochu@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>]

> Hi there,
>
> Does anybody have any information on how does S. imperator relate to 
> modern crocs? And to Purusaurus brasiliensis?


I'm actually rather disappointed in the coverage this is getting, as 
Sarcosuchus is not a crocodylian at all.  It's probably a 
pholidosaur, which means it's a "mesosuchian"-grade crocodyliform, 
but it lies outside Crocodylia.

Part of this stems from the desire of certain media sources to 
simplify the language for the  public by misusing a familiar word 
rather than trusting the public with a slightly newer term.  I think 
this attitude insults the public and does the paleontological 
community a disservice.



chris



--
------------------------
Christopher A. Brochu
Assistant Professor
Department of Geoscience
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242

christopher-brochu@uiowa.edu
319-353-1808 phone
319-335-1821 fax

www.geology.uiowa.edu/faculty/brochu