University of Queensland researchers identified the
Paludirex Vincenti from fossils first found in the 1980s.
Researcher Jorgo Ristevski said the species was named after Geoff Vincent, who found the giant fossilised skull on Baruŋgam country, near the town of Chincilla. In Latin,
Paludirex means swamp king , and Vincenti honours the late Mr Vincent, said Mr Ristevski.
The fossilised skull was on display in the Queensland Museum for years before it was donated to the Chinchilla Museum in 2011.
Skull pieces of Paludirex vincenti.
Source: Jorgo Ristevski Its fossilised skull measures around 65 centimetres, so we estimate
Paludirex Vincenti was at least five metres long.
This ancient crocodile once used to rule in Australia s Queensland waterways
Researchers at University of Queensland identified the new species of prehistoric crocodile which they named Paludirex vincenti from fossils first unearthed in the 1980s.
Sydney: A prehistoric crocodile measuring more than five metres long, dubbed the swamp king , ruled south eastern Queensland waterways in Australia only a few million years ago, new research has found.
Researchers at University of Queensland identified the new species of prehistoric crocodile which they named Paludirex vincenti from fossils first unearthed in the 1980s. Its fossilised skull measures around 65 centimetres, so we estimate Paludirex vincenti was at least five metres long, said Jorgo Ristevski from University of Queensland s School of Biological Sciences.