Discovered Crocodile Species Skull Unveiled
In a groundbreaking study led by Christopher Brochu, a paleontologist at the University of Iowa, the remains of a colossal prehistoric crocodile have been identified as belonging to a new species. This discovery sheds light on the complexity and diversity of crocodile evolution and challenges the belief that crocodiles are living fossils.
The newly discovered species, named Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni, lived near present-day Lake Turkana in Kenya between 2 and 4 million years ago. This ancient animal resembled a heavyset Nile crocodile, capable of reaching lengths of up to 20 feet long, making it the largest known true crocodile species.
The study, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology on May 3, suggests that the group of crocodiles is more diverse than previously thought. This discovery adds to the recent findings by Brochu and other scientists of a wealth of extinct crocodiles and their relatives of various shapes and sizes.
Alex Hastings, a University of Florida graduate student in vertebrate paleontology, didn't participate in the new study but commented on it. Hastings thinks early humans were not always the top of the food chain, contrary to common belief. He believes the new study provides a clearer understanding of the dangers and threats early humans faced, suggesting that they may have been ambushed by the giant crocs when they went to collect lake water.
Hastings also believes that when C. thorbjarnarsoni consumed early humans, the whole body likely went down the gullet, preventing fossilization. This could explain why the fossils of this giant crocodile were unearthed in the Lake Turkana Basin in the 1960s and '70s and are stored in the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, but the remains of early humans are scarce in the area.
Brochu encourages setting aside the notion that crocodiles are slowly evolving relics of the past. He believes that the study demonstrates the ongoing evolution of this ancient group of animals. The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), the largest living crocodile, supports this idea, reaching lengths of up to 7 meters (about 23 feet) and weighing as much as 1,200 kg (nearly 2,650 pounds).
In summary, the discovery of Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni challenges the myth that crocodiles are living fossils. This giant crocodile, along with recent findings, highlights the complexity and diversity of crocodile evolution and reinforces the ongoing adaptation of these ancient animals.
The discovery of the extinct Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni species in Kenya's Lake Turkana area, during the period of 2 to 4 million years ago, suggests a more diverse environmental landscape than previously believed, with a wide range of species, including giant crocodiles, inhabiting the earth. The study's publication in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology on May 3 emphasizes the need for continued scientific research in health-and-wellness sectors, such as medical-conditions related to the coexistence of early humans and these colossal reptiles. For instance, understanding the consumptive habits of C. thorbjarnarsoni could potentially impact our understanding of health-and-wellness factors in the environment of that era, providing a more holistic view of human evolution.
