A newly identified fossil species, Wadisuchus kassabi, dating to the Campanian around 80 million years ago, extends the evolution of the Dyrosauridae and underscores Egypt’s Western Desert as a key site for early marine crocodile evolution.

Funding for the research came from Mansoura University, the Science and Technology Development Fund, and the National Geographic Society.

The study was published in The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society on October 27, 2025, with DOI 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf134 and a team of authors including Sara Saber and Hesham M Sallam.

Wadisuchus kassabi is the earliest known member of the Dyrosauridae, a group adapted to coastal and marine environments with long snouts and sharp teeth suited for fish and turtles, offering insights into survival after the dinosaur extinction.

The species name honors Egypt’s geography and heritage: “Wadi” refers to the New Valley region, “Suchus” nods to the crocodile god Sobek, and “Kassabi” honors Professor Ahmed Kassab of Assiut University.

Fossils include two partial skulls and two snout tips from four individuals at different growth stages, enabling detailed analysis of development and anatomy through high-resolution CT scans and 3D reconstructions.

Researchers emphasize Africa as the cradle of dyrosaurid evolution and highlight the Western Desert’s value for unlocking deep-time paleoecology, while urging protection of fossil sites from development.

The discovery supports an African origin for Dyrosauridae and suggests an earlier diversification (Early Coniacian–Santonian, about 87–83 million years ago) than previously thought, with later lineages dispersing globally.

Key anatomical features of Wadisuchus kassabi include a body length of about 3.5–4 meters, a very long snout, tall sharp teeth, four front snout teeth (instead of five), top-side nostrils for surface breathing, and a deep notch at the snout tip where the jaws meet, indicating a gradual bite adaptation.