Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

This Giant Crocodile Relative Weighed as Much as a Car And Preyed on Rhino-Sized Mammals

Crocodiles are among today's most feared predators, but their ancient relatives make today's crocs seem as threatening as a cuddle-prone kitty with a cold.  It took a while, though: Since crocodyliforms arose more than 200 million years ago, they've gone through stages of non-threatening vegetarianism and even a literal cat-like form.  Eventually, evolution yielded some absolutely bonkers varieties that ruled their ecosystems with a scaly fist.  Enter the stone-cold (blooded) Purussaurus neivensis, a predecessor of caimans that attained 7 meters (23 feet) in length and 1,800 kilograms (4,000 pounds) in heft, similar to an average car.

None

Get the Android app