Bernissartia fossil map
Where fossils of Bernissartia have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 130 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 130 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Crocodile relatives |
|---|---|
| Lived | 152.21–93.9 million years ago (Kimmeridgian to Cenomanian) |
| Periods | Jurassic, Cretaceous |
| Named by | Dollo 1883 |
| Fossil records | 39 occurrences at 32 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Spain, United States, United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Belgium, Tanzania, Tunisia |
| Rock formations | txn:NF, El Castellar, Cedar Mountain, Weald Clay, Antlers, Camarillas |
About Bernissartia
Bernissartia ('of Bernissart') is an extinct genus of neosuchian crocodyliform that lived in the Early Cretaceous, around 130 million years ago.
At only 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) in length, Bernissartia is one of the smallest crocodyliforms that ever lived. It resembled modern species in many respects, and was probably semi-aquatic. It had long, pointed teeth at the front of the jaws that would have been of use in catching fish, but broad and flat teeth at the back of its jaws that were suited for crushing hard food, such as shellfish, and possibly bones.
It is known primarily from skulls and skeletons found in the Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation of Belgium and the Camarillas Formation of Spain. Less complete material has been referred to Bernissartia from the United Kingdom and North America.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Bernissartia (revision 1313766201), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q3234485.
