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Description
One of the two genera of Choristoderans uncovered from the Late Eocene Faiyum sites of Egypt, Setisuchus was the most basal member of the clade Pelagidracones. Alongside it's short necked cousin Khenthekai, S. ophidiocollis was also one of the oldest representatives of the derived aquatic clade Pontosuchoidea. Measuring up to 3.5m long, this piscivorous animal possessed an elongated neck, needle-like teeth and a slender whip tail. Overall known from a single partial skeleton found at the Wadi-Al Hitan fossil site, it would appear that this was a rare creature when alive, in stark contrast to the dozens of Mosasaurs recovered from the same deposits. However, this situation would begin to change after the End-Eocene extinction event. In form, S. ophidiocollis quite strongly resembled the ancient semi-aquatic Choristoderan Hyphalosaurus, albeit only superficially given that the animals were not closely related. Setisuchus was also a marine form, living along the tropical shores of the ancient Tethys Sea. Although already a decent swimmer, it was still capable of moving around on land when necessary and had not yet taken to a completely pelagic existence as it's later more derived relatives would do. During the Oligocene, members of Pelagidracones became larger and extreme, developing longer necks and bodies, moving into an almost Plesiosaur-like lifestyle. However, these Choristoderans were rather different from those more ancient marine reptiles in having small reduced flippers and more serpentine bodies powered not by the limbs but a deep flattened tail. Indeed, in modern forms the hind flippers are small and mainly function as clasps while mating.

Description
One of the two genera of Choristoderans uncovered from the Late Eocene Faiyum sites of Egypt, Setisuchus was the most basal member of the clade Pelagidracones. Alongside it's short necked cousin Khenthekai, S. ophidiocollis was also one of the oldest representatives of the derived aquatic clade Pontosuchoidea. Measuring up to 3.5m long, this piscivorous animal possessed an elongated neck, needle-like teeth and a slender whip tail. Overall known from a single partial skeleton found at the Wadi-Al Hitan fossil site, it would appear that this was a rare creature when alive, in stark contrast to the dozens of Mosasaurs recovered from the same deposits. However, this situation would begin to change after the End-Eocene extinction event. In form, S. ophidiocollis quite strongly resembled the ancient semi-aquatic Choristoderan Hyphalosaurus, albeit only superficially given that the animals were not closely related. Setisuchus was also a marine form, living along the tropical shores of the ancient Tethys Sea. Although already a decent swimmer, it was still capable of moving around on land when necessary and had not yet taken to a completely pelagic existence as it's later more derived relatives would do. During the Oligocene, members of Pelagidracones became larger and extreme, developing longer necks and bodies, moving into an almost Plesiosaur-like lifestyle. However, these Choristoderans were rather different from those more ancient marine reptiles in having small reduced flippers and more serpentine bodies powered not by the limbs but a deep flattened tail. Indeed, in modern forms the hind flippers are small and mainly function as clasps while mating.