6.5 Tomistoma
This is a typical ‘longirostrine’ form specialised for
eating a more exclusively fish-based diet. Elongation of the snout in a manner
similar to this seems to have occurred several times during the evolution of
crocodiles and today the forms with the longest snouts include the gavial,
false gavial (shown here),
Examine the long snout, external and internal nares, tooth
crown shape, and the manner in which upper and lower sets of teeth interact.
Photographs of a wide variety of living crocodiles including
Tomistoma are
shown here. Note the differing jaw and skull shapes present.
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