**Suchosaurus: The Crocodile Lizard Dinosaur**
Suchosaurus is a type of dinosaur known as a spinosaurid. It lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 140 to 122 million years ago, in what is now England and Portugal. The name “Suchosaurus” means “crocodile lizard.”
**Discovery and History**
The first discovery of Suchosaurus began in the early 1800s when British palaeontologist Gideon Mantell found some teeth in the Wadhurst Clay of East Sussex. At first, these teeth were believed to belong to crocodiles. However, in 1841, Richard Owen named a new species, Suchosaurus cultridens, based on these teeth.
In 1897, another species called Suchosaurus girardi was identified by French palaeontologist Henri-Émile Sauvage. This species was based on some jaw fragments and a tooth found in Portugal.
**Characteristics**
Suchosaurus was a large dinosaur. It is estimated to have reached around 8.6 to 10 meters long and weighed between 1 to 4 tonnes. It had long, curved teeth with grooves, which likely helped it catch prey.
**Habitat and Other Creatures**
Suchosaurus lived in the Wadhurst Clay Formation, an area that consisted mostly of mud and shales. This environment was home to various other dinosaurs, such as iguanodontians and possibly other carnivorous dinosaurs. Besides dinosaurs, Suchosaurus shared its habitat with sea creatures like plesiosaurs and early mammals.
**Conclusion**
In summary, Suchosaurus is an intriguing dinosaur that gives insight into the variety of life during the Early Cretaceous period. While it was originally thought to be a crocodile, it turned out to be a remarkable dinosaur with some fascinating features and a significant place in the prehistoric ecosystem.