Reaching a total body length of 5.43–6.19 metres (17.8–20.3 ft), it shares characteristics of both tomistomines and derived gharials, such as a possibly sexually dimorphic vocal structure.

Hanyusuchus was a recent taxon, living in southern China from approximately the 4th millennium BC (during the Bronze Age) to as late as the 15th century AD, perhaps even later, when increased efforts of government culling and habitat destruction likely led to its extinction.

Cut marks found on multiple subfossil specimens, as well as archaeological evidence, suggest the presence of repeated conflicts between Hanyusuchus and humans.

In modern gharials the pterygoid bulla is tied to ontogeny and sexual maturity in males and coupled with the growth of a soft tissue structure (ghara).

[1] Historical records dating to the years 849 and 1040 describe the crocodiles living in South China as being brownish yellow in colour, sometimes deep green and occasionally white.

The first of these reports stems from Bu Zhi, who was sent to Jiaozhou as a governor and noted the presence of various animals in the waters around Guangzhou, including the Chinese alligator as well as a different type of crocodilian.

Stories from the late 200s and early 300s tell of repeated conflicts with humans, describing them being killed and their heads dried, which is consistent with pathologies recovered from Bronze Age individuals.

In response, soldiers were sent to the area by Chen Yaozuo, captured crocodiles with nets fashioned from horsetail ropes and killed them publicly after announcing their crimes.

The vertical chop marks are shown to be narrow but deep and some pathologies with different orientation might correspond with attacks by other people or a simple change in position.

Another paratype, SM E1623, shows a prominent chop mark that indicates that the 4th cervical vertebrae had been bisected by a sharp weapon in a single blow (however it is deemed likely that it nonetheless took several hits to the soft tissue before the bone was split).

Climate change, although factoring into the demise of many of the Asian megafauna, is not considered a major aspect of these events given Hanyusuchus' survival into historic times.

[1] Although superficially resembling more traditional tomistomines, the excellent preservation of Hanyusuchus allowed researchers to identify a series of traits associated with more derived members of Gavialidae.

[1] Crocodyloidea †Maroccosuchus zennaroi †Megadontosuchus arduini †Dollosuchoides densmorei †Xaymacachampsa kugleri †Kentisuchus astrei †Kentisuchus spenceri †Tomistoma cairense †Tomistoma coppensi †Maomingosuchus petrolica Tomistoma schlegelii, false gharial †Tomistoma lusitanicum †Gavialosuchus eggenburgensis †Melitosaurus champsoides †Tomistoma calaritanum †Tomistoma gaudense †Thecachampsa carolinensis †Thecachampsa antiqua †Paratomistoma courti †Penghusuchus pani †Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis †Hanyusuchus sinensis †Eosuchus lerichei †Eosuchus minor †Ocepesuchus eoafricanus †Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis †Thoracosaurus macrorhynchus †Thoracosaurus neocesariensis †Aktiogavialis puertoricensis †Eogavialis africanum †Argochampsa krebsi †Piscogavialis jugaliperforatus †Ikanogavialis gameroi †Siquisiquesuchus venezuelensis †Dadagavialis gunai †Gryposuchus neogaeus †Gryposuchus croizati †Aktiogavialis caribesi †Gryposuchus pachakamue †Gryposuchus colombianus †Rhamphosuchus crassidens †Myanmar gavialid †Gavialis lewisi †Gavialis bengawanicus Gavialis gangeticus, gharial †Siwalik Gavialis