A recent study uncovers a massive predator from 70 million years ago in what is now Argentina. This creature, named Kostensuchus atrox, was a crocodile-like hypercarnivore that could reach up to 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) long and weigh around 550 pounds (250 kilograms).
Researchers found its fossilized skeleton in the southern region of Patagonia in 2020. K. atrox mainly feasted on meat, making it an apex predator. Its broad snout, large teeth, and strong limbs suggest it efficiently hunted larger prey in the rich ecosystems of the Cretaceous period.
Fernando Novas, a paleontologist involved in the study, pointed out that this discovery sheds light on the diverse life forms that coexisted with dinosaurs. He noted that during the Cretaceous, South America was filled with various types of crocodylians, both large and small, meat-eating and plant-eating. These reptiles played a crucial role in their ecosystems, competing with and hunting dinosaurs.
This new fossil is one of the best-preserved examples of peirosaurid crocodyliforms, which are an extinct branch related to today’s crocodiles. Novas emphasized that such discoveries highlight the complexity of ancient ecosystems, where organisms adapted and thrived together.
Interestingly, the research also mentions another predator from the same rock formation known as Maip macrothorax, discovered in 2022. This dinosaur was significantly larger, measuring around 30 to 33 feet (9 to 10 meters) long. While K. atrox was smaller, it still posed a threat to smaller dinosaurs in its habitat.
Experts suggest that understanding these predators helps us comprehend the intricate food webs of the past. Modern studies of ancient ecosystems, like those of K. atrox and M. macrothorax, can reveal how species interact and evolve, just as they do today.
