Sutekhsuchus fossil map
Where fossils of Sutekhsuchus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 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 15 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 | 23.04–15.98 million years ago (Aquitanian to Burdigalian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Gavialidae |
| Named by | Burke et al. 2024 |
| Fossil records | 5 occurrences at 4 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Egypt, Libya |
| Rock formations | Moghara, Maradah, txn:38413 |
About Sutekhsuchus
Sutekhsuchus (formerly known as Tomistoma dowsoni) is a species of gavialine crocodilian from the Miocene of Libya and Egypt. While this species was originally described as a species of the genus Tomistoma, which includes the modern false gharial, later studies have shown that it was actually a much more derived gavialoid closely related to the Kenyan Eogavialis andrewsi. Since it initially "deceived" paleontologists, it was named for the Egyptian god of deception Sutekh (also known as Set). It once inhabited the slow-moving rivers, estuaries and lagoons of what is now Gebel Zelten and Wadi Moghra, environments it shared with a variety of other crocodilians including the narrow-snouted Euthecodon and the robust Rimasuchus. Depressions on the inner side of the skull might also correlate with the presence of salt glands, which would have allowed it to more easily ventured out into marine environments. Only a single species is currently assigned to Sutekhsuchus, the type species S. dowsoni.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Sutekhsuchus (revision 1323598407), 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: Q130535887.
