New study confirms that Deinosuchus and it’s 'teeth the size of bananas'

The latest study from the fossil specimens of enormous crocodylian, Deinosuchus, has confirmed that the beast had teeth "the size of bananas", which were even capable to take down even the very largest of dinosaurs and, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

New Delhi:A new study, revisiting the fossil specimens from the enormous crocodylian, Deinosuchus, has confirmed that the beast had teeth "the size of bananas", which were even capable to take down even the very largest of dinosaurs.

The research, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, has revealed the various kinds of "terror crocodile". Two species, entitled Deinosuchus hatcheri and Deinosuchus riograndensis lived in the west of America, ranging from Montana to northern Mexico and another, Deinosuchus schwimmeri, lived along the Atlantic coastal plain from New Jersey to Mississippi. At the time, North America was cut in half by a shallow sea extending from the Arctic Ocean south to the present-day Gulf of Mexico.

Ranging in up to 33 feet in length Deinosuchus, though, has been known to be one of the largest, crocodylian genera ever in existence and it was the largest predator in its ecosystem, outweighing even the largest predatory dinosaurs living alongside them between 75- 82 million years ago.

Dr Adam Cossette from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University sheds new light on the monstrous creature and has further confirmed that z most certainly had the head size and crushing jaw strength to do just that. He says, "Deinosuchus was a giant that must have terrorized dinosaurs that came to the water's edge to drink and until now, the complete animal was unknown. These new specimens we've examined reveal a bizarre, monstrous predator with teeth the size of bananas."

Co-author Stephanie Drumheller-Horton, a palaeontologist at the University of Tennessee, further added that “Deinosuchus seems to have been an opportunistic predator, and given that it was so enormous, almost everything in its habitat was on the menu. We actually have multiple examples of bite marks made by D. riograndensis and a species newly described in this study, D. Schwimmer, on turtle shells and dinosaur bones."

New study confirms that Deinosuchus and it’s 'teeth the size of bananas'

"It was a strange animal," says Brochu. "It shows that crocodylians are not 'living fossils' that haven't changed since the age of dinosaurs. They've evolved just as dynamically as any other group."

Deinosuchus disappeared before the main mass extinction at the end of the age of dinosaurs (Mesozoic). The reason for its extinction remains unknown. From here, the authors call for my studies to further understand Deinosuchus.

"It had two large holes are present at the tip of the snout in front of the nose," Dr. Cossette says. He further added that "These holes are unique to Deinosuchus and we do not know what they were for, further research down the line will hopefully help us unpick this mystery and we can learn further about this incredible creature."

The Lateststudy from the fossil specimens of enormous crocodylian, Deinosuchus, has confirmed that the beast had teeth "the size of bananas", which were even capable to take down even the very largest of dinosaurs and, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

(ETV Bharat)