A massive prehistoric crocodile roamed around Queensland, Australia, a few million years ago. Since the skull measured about 65 centimeters long (2.1 feet), researchers were able to estimate that the entire length of its body was more than 5 meters (16.4 feet). Based on its giant size, it would have been a top predator during its time and could have easily preyed upon large marsupials.
The newly discovered species has been called
Paludirex vincenti – “
vincenti” in honor of Geoff Vincent who found the fossilized skull.
The fossil was unearthed close to the town of Chinchilla back in the 1980s and it was researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) who identified the new species of prehistoric crocodile. In fact, the skull was displayed at the Queensland Museum for numerous years prior to being donated to the Chinchilla Museum in 2011. (A picture of some of the skull bones can be seen here.)