''Brochuchus'' is an extinct

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of crocodile known from the

Early Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages: the Aquitanian age, Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 annum, Ma to ...

Hiwegi Formation of

Rusinga Island Rusinga Island, with an elongated shape approximately 10 miles (16 km) from end to end and 3 miles (5 km) at its widest point, lies in the eastern part of Lake Victoria at the mouth of the Winam Gulf. Part of Kenya, it is linked to Mbita ...

in Lake Victoria,

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

; it was originally named as a species of '' Crocodylus''. It contains two species, ''B. parvidens'' and ''B. pigotti''. ''Brochuchus'' belongs to the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Crocodylidae, which includes all living crocodiles. The closest living relative of ''Brochuchus'' is ''

Osteolaemus ''Osteolaemus'' is a genus of crocodiles. They are small, secretive crocodiles that occur in wetlands of West and Middle Africa. They are commonly known as the African dwarf crocodiles. Unlike other crocodiles, ''Osteolaemus'' are strictly noct ...

'', the dwarf crocodile. Compared to ''Osteolaemus'', which has a small body and blunt snout, ''Brochuchus'' has a more generalized crocodylid anatomy. ''Brochuchus'' is characterized by a flat and relatively narrow skull, and although it is larger than ''Osteolaemus'' it is smaller than most other crocodylids. It has two prominent bumps on the surface of its snout. The genus was named in honor of Christopher A. Brochu, for his scientific work on Crocodylia and its relatives. The unusual combination and spelling are intended as an auditory and visual pun such that the ‘ch’ sound in Brochu takes the place of the ‘s’ sound in ‘suchus.’ combined with ‘souchos’ (Greek for crocodile), which is a common suffix for crocodylomorph genera.

Phylogeny

A phylogenetic analysis published in 2013 found that ''Brochuchus'' was a close relative of ''Osteolaemus''. ''Brochuchus'' and ''Osteolaemus'' are part of a clade within Crocodylidae called Osteolaeminae. This clade is the

sister taxon In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and ...

to Crocodylinae which contains the genus '' Crocodylus'', which includes most living crocodiles.

Paleobiology

''Brochuchus'' has a generalized crocodylid body form with a long, narrow snout and a robust skeleton. Like most other species within Crocodylidae, ''Brochuchus ''was probably predatory and likely spent much of its time in water. As shown by the many mammal fossils that have been found on

, ''Brochuchus ''lived alongside several species of

proboscideans The Proboscidea (; , ) are a taxonomic order of afrotherian mammals containing one living family (Elephantidae) and several extinct families. First described by J. Illiger in 1811, it encompasses the elephants and their close relatives. Fro ...

(elephant relatives) and primates, the most famous of which is the early ape ''

Proconsul A proconsul was an official of ancient Rome who acted on behalf of a consul. A proconsul was typically a former consul. The term is also used in recent history for officials with delegated authority. In the Roman Republic, military command, or ...

''. Although there is no direct evidence for what ''Brochuchus ''ate, it may have preyed on ''Proconsul''. If this is the case, ''Brochuchus'' may have been one of the earliest anthropoidophagous ("ape-eating") crocodilians.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brochuchus Crocodylidae Miocene crocodylomorphs Miocene reptiles of Africa Fossils of Kenya Fossil taxa described in 2013 Prehistoric pseudosuchian genera