Deinosuchus riograndensis Tooth-Texas 02

Taxa: Deinosuchus riograndensis

Geology: Aguja formation

Age: Cretaceous-Campanian

Locality: Brewster County, Texas

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Aguja formation

The Aguja Formation is a Late Cretaceous geological formation exposed in West Texas (USA) and parts of northern Mexico. It consists mainly of sandstones and shales, with some lignite and mudstone, deposited in environments ranging from marine and deltaic to inland floodplain. The formation records the retreat of the Western Interior Seaway and features rich fossil deposits, including dinosaurs, turtles, and fossil plants such as palms. It is particularly well exposed in Big Bend National Park and is notable for its complex stratigraphy and diverse terrestrial vertebrate fauna.

Deinosuchus riogragndensis

Deinosuchus riograndensis was a giant, semi-aquatic crocodyliform from the Late Cretaceous (about 82–75 million years ago), reaching lengths of 9–12 meters and weights up to 8,500 kg. It was an apex predator in deltaic and coastal environments along the western margin of the Western Interior Seaway, including the Aguja Formation in northern Mexico and Texas. D. riograndensis had robust jaws and thick armor, and likely preyed on large dinosaurs and turtles. Fossils indicate it favored brackish or freshwater habitats near ancient shorelines, and it represents one of the largest crocodyliforms known from North America.