Photo: Houston Museum of Natural Science, via Wikimedia Commons
- Order
- Crocodilia
- Family
- Unknown
- Size
- Up to about 15–16 feet
A primitive crocodilian — neither true crocodile nor alligator — that could reach about 16 feet.
The most common crocodilian fossils found in the FBM are isolated teeth. Crocodilian species continually shed and replace their teeth, frequently breaking them off while feeding. There are 23 living species of crocodilians.
B. wilsoni belongs to a primitive crocodilian group and was neither true crocodile nor true alligator. It was part of a sister group to the group that contains both modern crocodiles and alligators. The largest specimen discovered from the FBM was about 15 feet long. Growth rings in fossil teeth indicate this species could grow as large as 16 feet.
Species text: National Park Service, Fossil Butte National Monument — Fossil Reptile Species.