Massive ‘terrorist crocodiles’ roamed the earth at least 75 million years ago, but have remained a mystery among the scientific community – until now.
Paleontologist examined fossil jaws belonging to a number of Deinoschus, and found that the animals’ teeth had ‘the size of bananas’ with crushing power to take down even the largest dinosaurs.
The remains suggest that these creatures had a long, broad snout, with an inflated area around the nose, which has not been seen in any other crocodile – neither alive nor extinct.
The team believes that Deinoschus terrorized unsuspecting creatures who came to the edge of the water to drink, and considered them opportunistic predators.
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Paleontologist examined fossil jaws belonging to a number of Deinoschus, and found that the animals had teeth ‘the size of bananas’ with crushing power to take down even the largest dinosaurs
There are three known species of Deinosuchus: Deinosuchus hatcheri, Deinosuchus riograndensis and Deinosuchus swimmeri.
Fossilized remains of these creatures have only been discovered in North America, primarily in the west and along the Atlantic coast.
In Deinosuchus, up to 33 meters in length, however, is known one of the largest, if not the largest, crocodilian genera ever been.
And experts say the creature ran past the largest predatory dinosaurs 75 to 82 million years ago.
The team believes that Deinoschus terrorized unsuspecting creatures who came to the edge of the water to drink, and considered them opportunistic predators
In Deinosuchus, however, up to 33 feet in length, has been known one of the largest, if not the largest, crocodile genus that has ever been
Prior to the recent study, however, paleontologists only had craniums of the creatures and bite marks on other dinosaur bones.
Dr. Adam Cossette, who led the study, now confirms Deinosuchus feeds on large dinosaurs.
“Deinosuchus was a giant who had to terrorize dinosaurs who came to the edge of the water to drink,” said Cossette, of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University.
‘Until now, the full animal was unknown. These new specimens we examined revealed a bizarre, monstrous predator with teeth the size of bananas. ‘
The remains suggest that these creatures had a long, broad snout, with an inflated area around the nose, which has not been seen in any other crocodile – neither alive nor extinct
Pictured are fossil pieces belonging to the giant Deinosuchus
Although the name of the genus means ‘terror crocodile’, experts say they are more like alligators.
However, their enormous skulls do not match those of an alligator or crocodile.
Co-author Stephanie Drumheller-Horton, a paleontologist at the University of Tennessee, added: ‘Deinosuchus seems to have been an opportunistic predator, and given that it was so enormous, almost everything in its habitat was on the menu. ‘
‘We have actually created several examples of bite marks by D. riograndensis and a species newly described in this study, D. schwimmeri, on turtles and dinosaur forests.’
They are said to have disappeared from the earth before the major mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, but the reason remains a mystery.
Chrisopher Brochu, co-author of the University of Iowa study, said, “It was a strange animal.”
‘It shows that crocodiles are not’ living fossils’ that have not changed since the age of dinosaurs. They have evolved just as dynamically as any other group. ‘
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