Ghost Ranch fossil gains a name, revealing a new Triassic crocodylomorph

A fossil from Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, has been identified as a new genus and species of crocodylomorph, Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa, dating to the Late Triassic. Discovered in 1948 and stored in the Peabody Museum basement for about 75 years, it was previously mislabeled as Hesperosuchus agilis. Detailed comparison revealed a shorter snout, a reinforced skull, and a powerful bite, suggesting distinct ecological niches for two crocodylomorphs coexisting in the same environment and underscoring early diversification of crocodile relatives.