Subscribe

0

  • Sign in with Email

By clicking the button, I accept the Terms of Use of the service and its Privacy Policy, as well as consent to the processing of personal data.

Don’t have an account? Signup

  • Bookmarks
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
  • India
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • हिंदी
  • Deals
  • Hindi
ad_close_btn
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Entertainment
  • Sports News
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • World
  • Auto News
  • Cities

Powered by :

You have successfully subscribed the newsletter.
Science News

Croc-Like Predators Preyed On Dinosaurs In Southern Africa 210 Million Years Ago, Claims Study

A scientist from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa has claimed that the giant and predatory crocodile-like animals that lived during the Triassic period preyed on early dinosaurs 210 million years ago.

author-image
Anurag Singh
27 Sep 2019 08:34 IST
Updated On 27 Sep 2019 08:35 IST

Follow Us

New Update
Croc-Like Predators Preyed On Dinosaurs In Southern Africa 210 Million Years Ago, Claims Study

Croc-Like Predators Preyed On Dinosaurs (Photo Credit: eartharchives.org)

Recently, a largest dinosaur skeleton was found in Japan. And now, a scientist from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa has claimed that the giant and predatory crocodile-like animals that lived during the Triassic period preyed on early dinosaurs 210 million years ago. Known as "rauisuchians", the predators lived in southern Africa and preyed on early herbivore dinosaurs and their mammal relatives living at the time. 

Advertisment

"These ancient fossils provide us with evidence of how at least two predator species hunted these vegetarian dinosaurs 210 million-years-ago," said Rick Tolchard from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. "It is amazing to follow the clues left behind in fossilised teeth, jaws, limbs and other fossils to help us tell the ancient story of life in southern Africa," he added. 

It is to be noted that the fossils include teeth, pieces of jaws, hind limbs and body armour, all can be described as parts of rauisuchians. It is worth mentioning here that rauisuchians are closely related to crocodiles. They had a diversity of body shapes and sizes during the Triassic period. The specimens described in the research include some of the largest carnivorous members of this group, that were possibly up to 10 metres long, with huge skulls full of serrated, curved teeth. 

The study, published online in the Journal of African Earth Sciences last week, shows that the rauisuchians were some of the latest-surviving members of their group.  

Tolchard further said, “In the Triassic period, rauisuchians were widespread and their fossils are known from all continents except Antarctica.” “They went extinct about 200 million years ago, paving the way for dinosaurs to become the dominant large land animals,” he added.  

Jonah Choiniere, Rick's advisor and Professor at the Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute, said, "Rick's study demonstrates the value of re-examining old specimens, and now we finally know what was preying on all those herbivorous dinosaurs."

RELATED

South Africa Dinosaur Pfedators Giant Crocodile
Subscribe to our Newsletter! Be the first to get exclusive offers and the latest news
logo

Related Articles
Read the Next Article
Latest Stories
Subscribe to our Newsletter! Be the first to get exclusive offers and the latest news

Powered by


Subscribe to our Newsletter!




Powered by
Select Language
English
Hindi

Share this article

If you liked this article share it with your friends.
they will thank you later

Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp

Copied!