How did the snout of *Rhamphosuchus* differ structurally from that of the modern Indian gharial?
Answer
The margins of the upper and lower jaws diverged outwards towards the back of the skull.
The snout of *Rhamphosuchus* was more robust than a modern gharial’s because the margins of the upper and lower jaws widened considerably closer to the eye sockets, contrasting with the parallel jaws of the Indian species.
Related Questions
What does the name *Rhamphosuchus* directly translate to?Who coined the generic name *Rhamphosuchus* in 1886?What initial genus did Cautley and Falconer assign the *Rhamphosuchus* remains to in 1840?What key finding caused the initial size estimate of *Rhamphosuchus* to be drastically revised downward in the 2000s?How did the snout of *Rhamphosuchus* differ structurally from that of the modern Indian gharial?What feature indicated that *Rhamphosuchus* had a bite mechanism similar to modern alligators, unlike gharials?What geological epoch does the type species, *Rhamphosuchus crassidens*, date back to?What specific characteristic marks the snout tip of *Rhamphosuchus pachyrhynchus*?What ecological paradox arises from the evidence regarding *Rhamphosuchus*'s diet?What feature in *R. pachyrhynchus* suggests it might have engaged in complex sexual signaling behaviors?