Geotimes
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Extra
October 26, 2001
Giant
ancient crocodile makes headlines
The giant
African crocodyliform Sarcosuchus imperator lived more than 100
million years ago. It weighed eight metric tons, measured up to 40 feet
in length and dined on small dinosaurs. In the Oct. 25 Science Express,
Paul Sereno at the University of Chicago and colleagues describe the newly
discoverd fossil skulls and partial skeletons of this giant – pulling Sarcosuchus
out of the El Rhaz Formation in Niger and on to the pages, screens and
speakers of the popular press. Below are links to just a few of the stories
in the media on the Sarcosuchus fossils, as well as the study in
Science.
[The skull of Sarcosuchus
imperator dwarfs a 50 centimenter adult skull of the living Orinoco crocodile
(Crocodylus intermedius). Newly discovered fossils suggest that it took
50-60 years for Sarcosuchus to reach its maximum adult size. Jaw form and
the stout proportions of the teeth suggest a generalized diet of large
vertebrates such as fish, turtles and dinosaurs. Courtsey of Mike Hettwer
and Paul Sereno]
The Giant Crocodyliform Sarcosuchus from the Cretaceous of Africa
(study
on Science Express available by subscription only)
www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1066521
Fossil of Monster Crocodile Found
www.nytimes.com/aponline/science/AP-Giant-Croc.html
African Fossil Find: 40-Foot Crocodile
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53118-2001Oct25.html
Crocodile, All Things Considered
www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20011025.atc.09.ram
Gargantuan ancient crocodile snacked on dinosaurs
www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/10/25/giant.crocodile.reut/index.html
Lisa M. Pinsker
