In nature, a creature’s place in the food chain can say a lot about its characteristics, its life, and how it related to other fauna in the wild. In this regard, a new crocodile species discovered in the Land Down Under is getting a lot of attention.
One specific factor sparks the interest of scientists in the newly discovered species of confractosuchus sauroktonos. Its last meal? A serving of a young ornithopod – a group of running grazers that evolved into more giant dinos and became one of the most successful herbivores of its era.
This new discovery is making a buzz in the world of science, and people are excited to learn more about the species that roamed the Earth around 145 to 66 million years ago.
New discovery about confractosuchus sauroktonos
The new crocodile species found in Queensland, Australia, is a confractosuchus sauroktonos. Researchers found the fossilized bones near Winton Formation, a 95-million-year-old geological rock bed.
The extinct crocodile species spans measures around 2.5 meters. Siltstone mass covered the partially-crushed sample, which preserved interesting evidence.
Inside the tummy of the Cretaceous-period extinct animal is the skeleton of a small dino.
In February, a paper published in the scientific journal Gondwana Research says the croc’s last meal is a young ornithopod.
The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, the museum behind the project, expressed that the new piece of info is vital. After all, it’s the first-ever evidence of a crocodile preying on a dinosaur in Australia.
The study, however, was not as simple as it may seem. For one, they had to use X-ray and CT scanning tech to see the bones inside the sample. In addition, they had to process the data through a computer, a method that took ten months to complete. They needed to do the lengthy process to produce a 3D bone render.
Despite siltstone preserving the sample, only 35 percent of its body mass is in good shape. Luckily, they were able to recover its skull in a near-complete state. The research also found that the dinosaur inside its tummy only weighs 1.7 kilos. This means that the croc ate the dinosaur while it was very young.
Dinosaur predation and what it says the about pre-historic world
So, what does the new crocodile species tell us about life in the wild back in its day? Does it hint at extinct animals, specifically crocodiles, preyed on dinosaurs? It could be a possibility.
The research says the new crocodile species possibly killed the dinosaur. On the other hand, it’s also possible that it foraged the young dino after its death.
An associate at the museum who led the research, Dr. Matt White, says the croc may not have preyed on dinosaurs. On the other hand, it wouldn’t have skipped an easy meal. He also mentioned that dinosaurs were a vital resource in the network of food webs during its era.
But whether the sample killed or foraged the dino, one thing is for sure: it is a rare occurrence. After all, the study admits that there is only a handful of dinosaur predation worldwide.
Dr. White says that there is a lack of global specimens at present. That means that the new data from the new croc offers clues to how animals behaved and lived in the Land Down Under during their time. It also adds crucial data to the existing studies about extinct species.
Aside from the recent species, scientists found another old croc species from Winton Formation. In October 2019, they also uncovered a 96-million-year-old pterosaur discovered in the rock bed.
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