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Prehistoric fossil gives new clues on crocodiles

STORY: This prehistoric fossil

is giving new clues

about the evolution of crocodiles

PALEONTOLOGIST, RODOLFO SALAS:

"This is the adult individual, Sacacosuchus cordovai. It is 7 million years old and was found in the Sacaco area (Arequipa Desert). It is a new species of crocodile that we are introducing to the world, and that lived in the Sacaco area 7 million years ago."

Researchers say the animal

likely crossed the Atlantic Ocean

to the coast of South America

Spanning over 13 feet in length

"From our research, we have reached the conclusion that all marine crocodiles were animals with long and thin faces, and that there were two morphotypes, two ecological types. That is, one that fed almost exclusively on fish, and another one that had a much broader diet."