Scientists uncover fossil of crocodile-eating dinosaur that once roamed South America
Scientists in Argentina have uncovered the fossilised remains of a newly discovered dinosaur that is believed to have feasted on crocodiles.
The dinosaur, called Joaquinraptor casali, is believed to be part of the megaraptoran family, which was also found across Australia, Asia and South America.
A well-preserved fossil was found in Patagonia, Argentina, and included much of the skull, limbs, ribs and vertebrae.
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A reconstruction of the Joaquinraptor. Andrew McAfee, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Initial analysis indicates the specimen found was an adult but not fully grown, estimated to be about 19 years old at the time of its death.
A fossilised crocodile leg bone among the remains gives hints to its diet and suggests it could have been an apex predator, meaning it was top of the food chain, in the region.
Scientists believe the species could have weighed more than 1000 kilograms and been about seven metres in length.
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Marcelo Luna, Lab. Paleontología de Vertebrados
Remains of the Joaquinraptor, and a close up of a claw found by scientists. Matt Lamanna
Due to its size and potential as an apex predator, experts believe it was a dominant species in the region.
The latest evidence of theropods dates to about 70 to 66 million years ago in the Cretaceous period.
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