Kosmodraco

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Kosmodraco is a genus of large predatory reptiles called choristoderes that lived in North America during the Paleocene. It was first described as a species of Simoedosaurus (Simoedosaurus dakotensis) in 1987, but in 2022 a researcher named Chase Brownstein established Kosmodraco as its own genus. There are two recognized species: K. dakotensis (the type species) and K. magnicornis.

What it looked like
- Kosmodraco had a relatively short, strong snout and a back part of the skull that was broad and triangular. The skull roof had ridges, and the eye openings and nostrils were raised on the skull.
- The back of the skull carried distinctive raised bumps on the squamosal bones.
- The two species differ in several details of the skull and teeth. K. dakotensis has a rostrum (snout) margin that isn’t smooth, a long row of teeth (about 45) with four teeth in the front upper jaw (premaxilla). K. magnicornis has a smoother snout margin, fewer maxillary teeth (about 31), and large horn-like projections on the back of the skull. The name magnicornis reflects these large horn-like spikes.

Size
- The type species, K. dakotensis, was very large, about 3–4 meters long and possibly up to 5 meters.
- K. magnicornis is also large, with a skull about 431 mm long.

What it ate and how it lived
- Kosmodraco was a semi-aquatic predator, likely feeding on fish and small vertebrates.
- Its robust skull shape suggests a strong bite, different from the long-snouted Champsosaurus, meaning they probably hunted different prey or used different fishing strategies.
- In North America’s Fort Union Formation, Kosmodraco shared the landscape with Champsosaurus gigas and other crocodilian-like reptiles, suggesting a diverse predator community.

Where it fits in
- Kosmodraco belongs to a family called Simoedosauridae within the larger group Neochoristodera, and it is closely related to Simoedosaurus and Tchoiria.

Meaning of the name
- Kosmodraco means “ornamented dragon.”
- K. dakotensis is named for North Dakota, where some fossils were found.
- K. magnicornis refers to the large horn-like bumps on its skull.