Paleontologists have identified two huge prehistoric predecessors to the crocodile, who had teeth “the size of bananas.” The American discoverers write this in the trade journal Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
The newly discovered species are called Deinosuchus hatcheri and Deinosuchus riograndensis and they lived in North America 75 to 82 million years ago.
Deinosuchus could grow up to 10 meters and is one of the largest crocodilians that ever lived. It may even have been the largest. It was the largest predator in its habitat.
When dinosaurs got too close to the water, chances were they would be on the Deinosuchus’ menu. Large teeth marks have already been found in dinosaur bones. Research on the size of the head and the strength of the jaws now shows that the Deinosuchus had the physical ability to eat prehistoric reptiles.
The giant crocodile became extinct before the dinosaurs did. How it was possible that this large dangerous reptile could die is as yet unknown.
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