New Crocodile Species That Eats Dinosaurs Discovered by Scientist
EXCITING DISCOVERY – A new crocodile species that once preyed on dinosaurs has been discovered by scientists.
The creature, named Kostensuchus atrox, gives researchers a clearer picture of what life was like millions of years ago.
According to experts, this ancient predator was about 3.5 meters long and weighed around 250 kilos. Its fossil was found in southern Patagonia back in 2020, but only recently did researchers complete their study and publish their findings in the scientific journal PLOS One.
Unlike modern crocodiles, which are mostly found in rivers and swamps, Kostensuchus atrox was believed to be a land-dwelling hunter. Instead of lying in wait underwater, it likely stalked its prey on land, making it a more active predator.
The study suggests that this giant reptile hunted small to medium-sized dinosaurs that roamed Patagonia around 70 million years ago. Researchers also described it as a hypercarnivore, meaning that more than 70 percent of its diet consisted of meat.
The discovery portrays the incredible diversity of life during the late Cretaceous period and shows that crocodiles had a much wider variety of lifestyles than we see today.
For paleontologists, finding a predator like Kostensuchus atrox proves that dinosaurs were not the only dominant hunters of their time, they also had to watch out for massive crocodiles on land.
The fossil find also excites scientists because it helps them better understand how crocodiles evolved and adapted over millions of years. It paints a picture of a world where survival meant being strong, fast, and always ready to fight for a meal.
For now, Kostensuchus atrox stands as a reminder that even dinosaurs had predators and some of them came with massive jaws and sharp teeth.
In another post, a giant crocodile captured in Tawi-Tawi shore