Sphenosuchia
Sphenosuchids are the only survivors of the Crocodylomorph superorder, an odd contrast to our own world, where the only survivors are Crocodylia, great lumbering aquatic ambush predators that could barely be more different from these swift, gracile, often arboreal hunters that are their relatives in the Different World.
Fast moving endurance hunters, Sphenosuchids are found across Eurasia, Africa and the Americas.
Perhaps the most bizarre development they have shown is the evolution of an opposable digit in many species that means many have become arboreal hunters, from the small and stealthy Fowlers of the Amazon, to the vicious Custodians of Malaysia, to the enigmatic European Jaculi. Others, such as the Snatchers of Madagascar and the Tabaqis of India still hold terrestrial predator niches, chasing down prey such as Copper Deer or small Rhynchosaurs.
Arbrosuchids
One of the main families of Sphenosuchids, Arbrosuchidae is the widest ranging family of Sphenosuchids, with representatives on every continent save Antarctica. Taking a wide variety of arboreal niches, from mid-level insectivores, to undergrowth ambush predators, to upper canopy hunters of quasi-bird and allobats, they are certainly a diverse group.
Genus: Custodiasuchus
The Custodians are one of the larger groups of Sphenosuchids. Found within the rainforests of Malaysia, they are named for the ferociousness with which they protect their territory, attacking anything, no matter how stupid it seems, that they deem to be trespassing.
Screaming Custodian (Custodiasuchus Clamere)
A mid-sized Custodian, this is pretty much the type species. A tree-to-ground ambush predator of the Papuan jungle, the Screaming Custodian is roughly three metres long, half of that tail. Possessed of sharp teeth and wicked claws, it normally drops onto prey and attacks it viciously. Normally prey will run off and will shortly die of bloodloss, all the while stalked by the Custodian, which will occasionally attack the individual again to quicken the process. They are named for the horrendous noise they make when their territory is 'invaded', a terribly loud, raucous high-pitched screech that can even cause temporary deafness in humans. This is normally followed by a frenzied attack. Most Screaming Custodian corpses are attributed to those that are foolish enough to try and attack a Veo.
Fast moving endurance hunters, Sphenosuchids are found across Eurasia, Africa and the Americas.
Perhaps the most bizarre development they have shown is the evolution of an opposable digit in many species that means many have become arboreal hunters, from the small and stealthy Fowlers of the Amazon, to the vicious Custodians of Malaysia, to the enigmatic European Jaculi. Others, such as the Snatchers of Madagascar and the Tabaqis of India still hold terrestrial predator niches, chasing down prey such as Copper Deer or small Rhynchosaurs.
Arbrosuchids
One of the main families of Sphenosuchids, Arbrosuchidae is the widest ranging family of Sphenosuchids, with representatives on every continent save Antarctica. Taking a wide variety of arboreal niches, from mid-level insectivores, to undergrowth ambush predators, to upper canopy hunters of quasi-bird and allobats, they are certainly a diverse group.
Genus: Custodiasuchus
The Custodians are one of the larger groups of Sphenosuchids. Found within the rainforests of Malaysia, they are named for the ferociousness with which they protect their territory, attacking anything, no matter how stupid it seems, that they deem to be trespassing.
Screaming Custodian (Custodiasuchus Clamere)
A mid-sized Custodian, this is pretty much the type species. A tree-to-ground ambush predator of the Papuan jungle, the Screaming Custodian is roughly three metres long, half of that tail. Possessed of sharp teeth and wicked claws, it normally drops onto prey and attacks it viciously. Normally prey will run off and will shortly die of bloodloss, all the while stalked by the Custodian, which will occasionally attack the individual again to quicken the process. They are named for the horrendous noise they make when their territory is 'invaded', a terribly loud, raucous high-pitched screech that can even cause temporary deafness in humans. This is normally followed by a frenzied attack. Most Screaming Custodian corpses are attributed to those that are foolish enough to try and attack a Veo.