Chinatichampsus
| Chinatichampsus | |
|---|---|
| Holotype skull of Chintanichampsus wilsonorum. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Alligatoridae |
| Subfamily: | Caimaninae |
| Genus: | †Chinatichampsus Stocker, Brochu, & Kirk, 2021 |
| Species | |
| |
Chinatichampsus ("Chinati Mountains crocodile") is an extinct genus of alligatorid from Texas. A single specimen, consisting of a partial skull, was discovered in 2010, in strata from the Eocene-aged (42.8–41.5 Ma) Devil's Graveyard Formation. The specimen was probably mature judging by its size and the shape and size of the fenestrae (skull holes). It was described and named in 2021 by a team consisting of Michelle R. Stocker, Christopher A. Brochu, and E. Christopher Kirk. One species of Chinatichampsus, C. wilsonorum, has been named. Chinatichampsus was initially recovered as the most basal Eocene caimanine, part of the alligatorid subfamily which includes modern caimans, though a subsequent analysis found it to be part of a caimanine stem group including Gnatusuchus and Protocaiman.