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), Johnston’s crocodile, the African long-snouted crocodile and the New Guinea crocodile. Tomistoma is found in south-east Asia and northern Australasia.

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.