| Bernissartia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Holotype skeleton ofB. fagesii | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Clade: | Pseudosuchia |
| Clade: | Crocodylomorpha |
| Clade: | Metasuchia |
| Clade: | Neosuchia |
| Family: | †Bernissartiidae |
| Genus: | †Bernissartia Dollo,1883 |
| Type species | |
| †Bernissartia fagesii Dollo, 1883 | |
Bernissartia ('ofBernissart') is anextinctgenus ofneosuchiancrocodyliform that lived in theEarly Cretaceous, around 130million years ago.
At only 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) in length,Bernissartia is one of the smallest crocodyliforms that ever lived.[2] It resembled modern species in many respects, and was probably semi-aquatic. It had long, pointed teeth at the front of the jaws that would have been of use in catching fish, but broad and flat teeth at the back of its jaws that were suited for crushing hard food, such asshellfish, and possibly bones.[3]
It is known primarily from skulls and skeletons found in theSainte-Barbe Clays Formation ofBelgium and theCamarillas Formation ofSpain. Less complete material has been referred toBernissartia from theUnited Kingdom andNorth America.[2]
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