CANBERRA, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A new extinct crocodile species, dating back to millions of years was discovered in the Australian Outback.
A team from the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (NT), yesterday announced that, they have identified a new species of crocodile belonging to the Baru genus, but have not yet named it.
Adam Yates, the senior earth science curator at the museum, said, the best example of the crocodile’s skull was found north-east of Alice Springs, in central Australia in 2009.
Based on the skull, which is eight million years old, Yates said, the Baru was comparable in size to a saltwater crocodile but significantly heavier.
“This particular specimen is one of the last of its kind. It is by far the nicest and most complete skull of a Baru crocodile that’s ever been found,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
He said, the crocodile probably weighed more than an equivalent length to a saltwater crocodile, or probably hundreds of kilos.
“Its really strongly built thick, heavy, deep jaws, and really massive teeth all indicate that this was a crocodile that was specialised in taking megafauna,” he said.
“(Modern crocodiles) subsist mostly on small fish and small prey. This guy didn’t subsist on small things. It was specialised for taking big things.”
Baru crocodiles inhabited Australia up to 25 million years, while modern crocodiles arrived on the continent from Africa a few million years ago.
“The Australian crocodiles are actually recent arrivals on the Australian continent. They belong to the genus Crocodylus, which probably has an origin in Africa,” Yates said. “Whereas Australia’s original endemic crocodiles like this one, have gone extinct completely.”
The name of the new species will be announced in 2022.– NNN-AGENCIES
