Evidence of Ancient Tree-Climbing Crocodiles Found in Australia
Scientists have discovered Australia’s oldest known crocodile eggshells in a Queensland backyard, potentially belonging to extinct mekosuchine crocodiles, nicknamed “drop crocs,” that may have climbed trees. These 55-million-year-old eggshells, discovered decades ago but only recently analyzed, provide insights into a time when Australia was connected to Antarctica and South America. The mekosuchines, which could grow up to five meters long, thrived in inland waters long before modern crocodile species arrived. The findings, from a rich fossil site in Murgon, add to evidence suggesting these ancient crocodiles may have been terrestrial hunters, possibly ambushing prey from trees.
John Q. Hosedrinker