2020-12-22 06:05:29 GMT2020-12-22 14:05:29(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
SYDNEY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) As if Australia s current wildlife weren t deadly enough, researchers have identified a prehistoric species of crocodile which existed on the continent millions of years ago, describing it as like a modern crocodile on steroids.
Growing up to five metres long, the creature, dubbed swamp king lurked in the waterways of what is now southeastern Queensland, likely preying on giant species of marsupial which are also now extinct.
Researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) identified the croc, whose scientific name is Paludirex vincenti, from fossilised segments of skull first unearthed in the 1980s.
Crocodile on steroids : The giant prehistoric reptile that roamed Queensland Crocodile on steroids : The giant prehistoric reptile that roamed Queensland
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While crocodiles are a common consideration across Queensland s north today, a larger cousin also ruled waterways in the south-east until a few million years ago.
Dubbed the swamp king , the newly identified species of prehistoric crocodile is estimated to have been at least five metres long and capable of preying on the giant marsupials of its time, rivalling the largest in the world today.
University of Queensland researchers say the swamp king would have grown to at least five metres in length.
Credit: The University of Queensland
A prehistoric croc measuring more than five metres long - dubbed the swamp king - ruled south eastern Queensland waterways only a few million years ago.
University of Queensland researchers identified the new species of prehistoric croc - which they named
Paludirex vincenti - from fossils first unearthed in the 1980s.
UQ PhD candidate Jorgo Ristevski, from UQ s School of Biological Sciences, said they named the species after Geoff Vincent who discovered the giant fossilised skull near the town of Chinchilla. In Latin, Paludirex means swamp king , and vincenti honours the late Mr Vincent, he said.