Massive ‘terror crocodiles’ roamed the earth at least 75 million years ago, but have remained a mystery among the scientific community – until now.
Palaeontologist examined fossilized jaws belonging to a number of Deinoschus, revealing the beasts had teeth ‘the size of bananas’ with crushing power to take down even the largest dinosaurs.
The remains suggest these creatures had a long, broad snout, with an inflated area around the nose, which has not been seen in any other crocodilian – neither living nor extinct.
The team believes Deinoschus terrorized unsuspecting creatures that came to the water’s edge to drink, deeming them opportunistic predators.
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Palaeontologist examined fossilized jaws belonging to a number of Deinoschus, revealing the beasts had teeth ‘the size of bananas’ with crushing power to take down even the largest dinosaurs
There are three known Deinosuchus species: Deinosuchus hatcheri, Deinosuchus riograndensis and Deinosuchus schwimmeri.
Fossilized remains of these creatures have only been uncovered in North America, primarily in the west and along the Atlantic coast.
Ranging in up to 33 feet in length Deinosuchus, though, has been known to be one of the largest, if not the largest, crocodylian genera ever in existence.
And experts say the creature roamed alongside the largest predatory dinosaurs 75 to 82 million years ago.
The team believes Deinoschus terrorized unsuspecting creatures that came to the water’s edge to drink, deeming them opportunistic predators
Ranging in up to 33 feet in length Deinosuchus, though, has been known to be one of the largest, if not the largest, crocodylian genera ever in existence
However, prior to the recent study, paleontologists only had craniums of the creatures and bite marks on other dinosaur bones.
Dr Adam Cossette, who led the study, now confirms Deinosuchus fed on large dinosaurs.
‘Deinosuchus was a giant that must have terrorized dinosaurs that came to the water’s edge to drink,’ said Cossette, from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University.
‘Until now, the complete animal was unknown. These new specimens we’ve examined reveal a bizarre, monstrous predator with teeth the size of bananas.’
The remains suggest these creatures had a long, broad snout, with an inflated area around the nose, which has not been seen in any other crocodilian – neither living nor extinct
Pictured are fossilized spines belonging to the giant Deinosuchus
Although the genus’s name means ‘terror crocodile,’ experts say they are more similar to alligators.
However, their enormous skulls do not match that 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 actually have multiple examples of bite marks made by D. riograndensis and a species newly described in this study, D. schwimmeri, on turtle shells and dinosaur bones.’
They are said to have disappeared from the Earth before the main mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, but the reason remains a mystery.
Chrisopher Brochu, co-author of the study from the University of Iowa, said: ‘It was a strange animal.’
‘It shows that crocodylians are not ‘living fossils’ that haven’t changed since the age of dinosaurs. They’ve evolved just as dynamically as any other group.’