The World Records Authority is proud to recognise Sarcosuchus imperator — an ancient predator from the Mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 112 million years ago — as the largest crocodyliform ever known. This colossal animal, estimated at 12.2 metres in length and 8 tonnes in weight, truly earns its title as a ‘super-croc,’ dwarfing even the largest living crocodilians by a significant margin.

First described from fossil remains discovered in the Sahara Desert and South American sediments, Sarcosuchus possessed a distinctive elongated snout tipped with a bulbous rosette called a bulla, the function of which remains debated among palaeontologists. Its heavily armoured body was covered in osteoderms — bony scutes — providing formidable protection while it patrolled the vast river systems of the Cretaceous tropics.

Scale model reconstructions based on the closely related living saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) provide the most accurate visualisation of this prehistoric titan, confirming its extraordinary scale. This WRA record celebrates the remarkable legacy of one of the most formidable animals ever to have lived on Earth.