Pristichampsus was first described and named as a species of Crocodylus, C. rollinatii, by John Edward Gray in 1831 on the basis of remains from the Lutetian of France. Paul Gervais (1853) assigned this species to its own genus, creating the new combination Pristichampsus rollinatii. Other species have been referred to this genus.
Pristichampsus was initially designated as a type of Crocodylus, C. rollinatii, by John Edward Gray in 1831 based on fossils from the Lutetian period in France. Paul Gervais (1853) then reclassified this species into its own genus, Pristichampsus rollinatii, creating a new classification. Other species have been associated with this genus.