{"id":424133,"date":"2024-11-29T00:42:57","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T00:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=424133"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Peru-scientists-unveil-crocodile-fossil-up-to-12-million-years-old","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Peru-scientists-unveil-crocodile-fossil-up-to-12-million-years-old\/","title":{"rendered":"Peru scientists unveil crocodile fossil up to 12 million years old"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paleontologists unveiled on Wednesday the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years that was discovered in a Peruvian desert.<\/p>\n

The fossil of the gharial — or fish-eating — crocodile, around three meters long (nearly 10 feet), was discovered late 2023 in perfect condition in Peru’s Ocucaje desert, around 350 kilometers (190 miles) south of the capital Lima.<\/p>\n

“This is the first time we found a juvenile of this species, that is to say, it had not reached its maximum size yet. It died before that,” vertebrate paleontologist Mario Gamarra told a news conference.<\/p>\n

The skull and jaws of these specimens differed from that of today’s crocodiles and alligators, according to Gamarra, who headed the reconstruction of the fossil.<\/p>\n

“They had an elongated snout and their diet was entirely piscivorous, feeding on fish,” said Gamarra.<\/p>\n

“The closest current relative to this crocodile would be the Indian gharial,” he added.<\/p>\n

The discovery was made jointly by Peru’s Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute and the La Union school.<\/p>\n

Peru’s Ocucaje desert is rich in fossils, such as four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period — between 5 and 23 million years ago — that were previously discovered there.<\/p>\n

cm\/ljc\/dhw\/dhc<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru<\/p>\n

-Ernesto BENAVIDES
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