Terror Crocodile That Ate Dinosaurs and Dominated Earth Revealed in New Study – Indian Defence Review
2025-04-24T18:20:00Z
A new study has uncovered the secrets of Deinosuchus, a massive ancient crocodile that roamed North America 82 million years ago and preyed on dinosaurs.
A new study has revealed astonishing details about Deinosuchus, a “terror crocodile” that once dominated the waters of ancient North America. Researchers have uncovered key insights into this massive predator, which lived around 82 to 75 million years ago and preyed on dinosaurs. Known for its massive size, Deinosuchus is now recognized as one of the most fearsome creatures to ever roam Earth, and recent findings have shed light on why it became such a powerful dinosaur-eater.
Unlike modern crocodiles and alligators, which are typically confined to freshwater, Deinosuchus had a unique ability to survive in saltwater, making it a far more versatile and widespread predator. This finding, part of a new study published in the journal Communications Biology, is shedding new light on the evolution of crocodilians and how some species adapted to climate changes.
The Key Trait Behind Deinosuchus’s Success: Saltwater Tolerance
One of the most fascinating aspects of Deinosuchus is its ability to tolerate saltwater, a trait that modern alligators and many crocodilians lack. Unlike today’s alligators, Deinosuchus retained salt glands, which allowed it to survive in coastal marshes and estuaries as well as rivers. This unique adaptation likely enabled it to thrive in the Western Interior Seaway, which once divided North America.
Dr. Márton Rabi, senior author of the study and lecturer at the University of Tübingen, explained the significance of this discovery to CNN, saying, “No one was safe in these wetlands when Deinosuchus was around. We are talking about an absolutely monstrous animal. Definitely around 8 meters (26 feet) or more total body length.”
With its saltwater tolerance, Deinosuchus could traverse vast regions of North America, reaching both coastal and inland habitats teeming with large prey. This adaptability helped it become one of the top predators of its time, preying on everything from smaller reptiles to dinosaurs.
How the Fossil Evidence Changed Our Understanding
The discovery of Deinosuchus fossils has provided researchers with crucial evidence about this ancient predator’s lifestyle. Fossils of Deinosuchus have been found on both sides of the Western Interior Seaway, but for years, scientists were puzzled by how such a large predator could thrive in both freshwater and saltwater environments.
The latest study, which incorporated new molecular data and fossil analysis, has helped to clarify Deinosuchus’s place in the crocodilian family tree. Researchers concluded that Deinosuchus was not closely related to modern alligators, as previously assumed, but actually belonged to a different branch of the crocodilian family. Dr. Rabi explained that saltwater tolerance was a trait of ancient crocodilians, one that was later lost in alligatoroids. He added, “Our analysis found that saltwater tolerance is a fairly ancient trait of many crocodilians, and was secondarily lost in the alligatoroids.”
The Evolution of Giant Crocodiles: A Look at the Past
Deinosuchus was not the only giant crocodile in history. The study reveals that giant crocodilians evolved independently multiple times over the past 120 million years, adapting to different environments as global climates shifted. Deinosuchus, with its massive size and ability to navigate saltwater, was just one example of how crocodilians evolved to dominate their habitats.
Dr. Evon Hekkala, a professor at Fordham University, who was not involved in the study, commented on the broader implications of these findings, stating, “This ecological trait would have allowed lineages of crocodiles in the past to be more opportunistic in times when drastic environmental changes, such as sea level rise, were causing extinctions in less tolerant species.”
The saltwater tolerance that allowed Deinosuchus to roam across vast areas of North America also highlights the adaptability of crocodilians during environmental shifts. This ability would have been essential during periods of global warming, when the Western Interior Seaway flooded large portions of the continent.
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