Crocodylomorph and early archosaur collections

The Museum's crocodylomorph and early archosaur collections include an estimated 5,000 specimens, from isolated incomplete bones to articulated skeletons on slabs and mounts.

Collection strengths

Although many specimens are from pyrite-bearing strata vulnerable to decay, our crocodylomorph collection is generally in very good condition.

At least a fifth of the collection space is occupied by Triassic archosaurs from the UK and abroad, including Ornithosuchus, Scleromochlus, Erythrosuchus, aetosaurs and phytosaurs. 

British Mesozoic crocodylomorphs are very well represented due to a long history of collecting across the British Isles in the Lower Lias Group, Upper Lias Group, Kimmeridge Clay Formation, Oxford Clay Formation and Purbeck Beds. Specimens include:

• Metriorhynchus
• Suchodus
• Tyrannoneustes
• Dakosaurus
• Plesiosuchus
• Geosaurus
• Teleosaurus
• Steneosaurus
• Dakosaurus
• Goniopholis
• Theriosuchus

The collections include a large number of foreign specimens from parts of Europe, the Indian subcontinent and Africa.

The fossil crocodylomorphs are used in a wide range of research projects, ranging from taxonomic revisions to biomechanical and palaeoecological studies.

Countries of origin

Argentina, Australia, Baluchistan (Pakistan), Bangladesh, Belgium, Bengal, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Bolivia, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, UK and the USA.

Our collection includes Triassic material from South Africa, USA, Germany and Scotland. The Jurassic and Cretaceous of the UK, France and Germany are very well represented, with Thalattosuchia being one of the strengths of the collection. The Cenozoic is covered by material from the UK and Europe, the Indian subcontinent and Africa.

We are actively acquiring specimens from Morocco.

Some countries and regions, such as Thailand and Patagonia, are represented by casts of specimens.