Akanthosuchus
| Akanthosuchus Temporal range: Paleocene
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|---|---|
| Osteoderms | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Alligatoridae |
| Subfamily: | Alligatorinae |
| Genus: | †Akanthosuchus O'Neill, Lucas, and Kues, 1981 |
| Species | |
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Akanthosuchus ("spine crocodile", referring to its dermal armor) is an extinct genus of alligatoroid crocodilian, and has been regarded as a possible alligatorine. Fossils are known from the Paleocene-aged Nacimiento Formation of the San Juan Basin in New Mexico, United States. The genus is represented by a partial skeleton and isolated osteoderms (bony armor). The osteoderms have been described as distinctive, including both spike-shaped and blade-shaped elements.