Titanochampsa

Although only known from a single skull roof, the material shows that Titanochampsa was not a member of Notosuchia, which were previously believed to have been the only crocodyliforms present in the strata of the Bauru Group.

A more detailed description was eventually published by Fachini and colleagues six years later, conducting a thorough phylogenetic analysis and establishing a distinct genus for the material.

The ornamentation is still visible on parts of the skull despite the abbrasion of the external surface and consists of faint groves and pits spaced at regular intervals.

The supratemporal fenestrae are approximately triangular and both externally as well as internally large, making up 50% of the skull roof and suggesting the presence of powerful adductor muscles on the lower jaw.

The Martínez dataset recovers Titanochampsa in a large polytomy at the base of Longirostres alongside Argochampsa, Asiatosuchus germanicus and the extant Crocodylus genus.

[1] Theriosuchus Alligatorium Goniopholis simus Sunosuchus Calsoyasuchus Eutretauranosuchus Goniopholis stovalli Glen Rose Form Bernissartia Rugosuchus Shamosuchus Hylaeochampsa Borealosuchus Pristichampsus vorax Leidyosuchus canadensis Alligator Diplocynodon hantoniensis Argochampsa Crocodylus Asiatosuchus germanicus Titanochampsa iorii Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis Gavialis gangeticus Theriosuchus Batrachomimus pastobonensis Sunosuchus Eutretauranosuchus delfsi Amphicotylus lucasii Goniopholis simus Goniopholis kiplingi Bernissartia fagesi Shamosuchus djadochtaensis Rugosuchus nonganensis Titanochampsa iorii Gavialis gangeticus Hylaeochampsa vectiana Allodaposuchus precedens Crocodylus Alligator mississippiensis Susisuchus anatoceps Isisfordia duncani Lohuecosuchus megadontos Agaresuchus fontiensis Pietraroiasuchus ormezzanoi Iharkutosuchus makadii However, while the authors were unable to fully support Neosuchian affinities, they were capable of clearly distinguishing the genus from Notosuchians.

[1] The notosuchians which are commonly found in other stratigraphic units of the Bauru group are thought to have had relatively weak bite forces and the largest known predatory species appear to have reached a maximum length of approximately 4 m (13 ft).

The strong bite and great size, coupled with the possible affinities with eusuchians and environmental conditions, might suggest that Titanochampsa was a semi-aquatic ambush hunter similar to modern crocodilians.

Fachini and colleagues speculate that the appearance of a crocodyliform with this lifestyle might tie into the climatic changes the area underwent during the later phases of this time period, however they note that more material would be required to be certain.