Paleontologists on Wednesday unveiled the fossil of a young saltwater crocodile, 10 to 12 million years old, discovered in a Peruvian desert.
The fossil of the gharial (or fish-eating) crocodile, about three meters long, was discovered in perfect condition in late 2023 in Peru’s Ocucaje Desert, about 350 kilometers south of the capital Lima.
“This is the first time we have found a juvenile of this species, that is, it has not yet reached its maximum size. It died before that,” paleontologist Mario Gamarra told a news conference.
The skull and jaws of these specimens differed from those of modern-day crocodiles and alligators, said Gamarra, who led the fossil’s reconstruction.
“They had an elongated snout and their diet was completely piscivorous, feeding on fish,” Gamarra said.
“The closest current related to this crocodile would be the Indian gharial,” he added.
The discovery was made jointly by the Peruvian Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute and the La Union School.
Peru’s Ocucaje Desert is rich in fossils, such as four-legged pygmy whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene – between 5 and 23 million years ago – previously discovered there.
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