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Scientists in Peru discover a 12-million-year-old crocodile fossil

2024-11-28 14:25:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Scientists in Peru discover a 12-million-year-old crocodile fossil

Paleontologists have announced that they have discovered a fossil of a crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years that was discovered in the Peruvian desert.

The fossil of the gavial crocodile, - or fish-eating - crocodile that was about 3 meters long, was discovered at the end of 2023 in perfect condition.

The fossil was found in the Okukahe Desert, about 350 kilometers south of the capital, Lima.

"This is the first time we have found a young one of this species, so it had not reached its maximum size. It died before it reached its maximum size," said paleontologist Mario Gamarra at a press conference. The skull and jaw of these species differ from modern-day crocodiles and alligators, according to Gamarras, who led the project to reconstruct the fossil.

"They had an elongated nose and fed only on fish," Gamarra said. "The closest species to this crocodile would be the Indian gavial crocodile," he added.

The discovery was made jointly by the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Peru and the La Union school.

The Okukahe Desert is rich in fossils, such as those of whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period – about 5 to 23 million years ago – that have been discovered there earlier./ Rel





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