Thread by @weatherindia

Swamp King: Researchers Identify New Species of Prehistoric #Crocodile

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(📸: The University of Queensland/IANS)

A prehistoric #crocodile measuring more than five metres long, dubbed the "swamp king", ruled south eastern Queensland waterways in Australia only a few million years ago, new research has found.

#wildlifeonearth

Researchers at University of Queensland identified the new species of prehistoric crocodile—which they named Paludirex vincenti—from fossils first unearthed in the 1980s."Its fossilised skull measures around 65 cms, so we estimate Paludirex vincenti was at least five metres long"

#Paludirex was one of the top predators in Australia a few million years ago, capable of preying on giant prehistoric marsupials. Various species of prehistoric crocodylians had existed in Australia, said study co-author Steve Salisbury from University of Queensland.

#wildlife

Ristevski said they named the species after Geoff Vincent who discovered the giant fossilised skull near the town of Chinchilla. "In Latin, 'Paludirex' means 'swamp king', and 'vincenti' honours the late Mr Vincent," he said.

#wildlifeonearth

Whether Paludirex vincenti went extinct as a result of competition with species like Crocodylus porosus is hard to say," said Salisbury.The alternative is that it went extinct as the climate dried,and the river systems it once inhabited contracted"

#wildlifeonearth