Ancient ‘Drop Crocs’ Unearthed in Queensland Reveal Surprising Evolutionary History
Murgon, Queensland - Fossil evidence discovered in a Queensland clay pit suggests that ancient crocodiles, dubbed “drop crocs” by researchers, were capable of climbing trees and ambushing prey as early as 55 million years ago. The findings, recently analyzed with scientists in Spain, challenge conventional understanding of crocodile evolution and behavior.
The discovery centers around fossilized eggshells of mekosuchine crocodiles, a group that thrived in Australia long before the arrival of modern saltwater and freshwater crocodiles around 3.8 million years ago. These ancient reptiles, some reaching up to five metres in length, inhabited a lush forest environment near present-day Murgon, approximately 270km (168 miles) north-west of Brisbane.
“It’s a bizarre idea,” said Professor Mike Archer, a palaeontologist at the University of New South Wales, “but some were probably terrestrial hunters in the forests.” further fossil discoveries from 25-million-year-old deposits in other parts of Queensland support the theory that certain mekosuchine species were at least partially arboreal, utilizing a “drop croc” hunting strategy.
The Murgon site, excavated since the early 1980s, has become renowned as one of Australia’s oldest fossil locations. Professor Archer recalls the humble beginnings of the dig: “In 1983,a colleague and I drove to Murgon,parked the car on the side of the road,grabbed our shovels,knocked on the door and asked if we could dig up their backyard. After explaining the prehistoric treasures that might lie under their sheep paddock and that fossil turtle shells had already been found in the area, they grinned and said ‘of course!'”
the site has since yielded a remarkable array of ancient fauna, including the world’s oldest-known songbirds, Australia’s earliest frogs and snakes, a diverse range of small mammals with South American connections, and one of the world’s oldest known bats, according to Dr.Michael Stein, a co-author of the report.
“And, quite clearly, from the many engaging animals that we’ve already found in this deposit since 1983, we know that with more digging there will be a lot more surprises to come,” Professor Archer added.The ongoing research promises to further illuminate the evolutionary history of crocodiles and the ancient ecosystems of Australia.
