What We Know About Deinosuchus, the King of the Crocodilians

Learn more about the massive predator that lived in Hell’s Aquarium during the late Cretaceous period.

By Sara Novak
Nov 25, 2024 4:00 PMNov 25, 2024 5:58 PM
Deinosuchus
(Credit: Racksuz/iStock / Getty Images Plus)

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Deinosuchus lived during the late Cretaceous period, from 82 million years to 73 million years ago. This monster croc, whose habitat consisted of areas in North America from Montana to northern Mexico and New Jersey to Mississippi, would have seen a world that looked much different than it does today. 

At the time, the continent was much warmer, with a coastal, tropical, and subtropical climate similar to Florida or Georgia. And although Deinosuchus lived in freshwater, it could also be found in brackish waters. At the time, the continent was cut into two by the Western Interior Seaway, also known as the Cretaceous Seaway, that stretched from the Hudson Bay down to the Gulf of Mexico. 

An Apex Predator Amongst Apex Predators

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