Lucy’s hunter crocodile discovered: A massive crocodile lurked in Lucy’s world, and early human ancestors may have been its prey
Researchers have identified a previously unknown species of crocodile that lived in the same region of East Africa as Lucy between 3.4 million and 3 million years ago, Science Daily reports. The huge reptile was named Crocodylus lucivenator, meaning “Lucy’s hunter.”
This name was chosen because the crocodile lived along with Lucy’s species, Australopithecus afarensis, in what is now Ethiopia.
An Ancient Neighbor Hidden in the Water
Lucy’s environment wasn’t just a landscape of early human ancestors. The Hadar region included rivers, lakes, wetlands, shrublands, and tree-lined waterways that supported a wide variety of wildlife.
Among them was a crocodile unlike any previously spotted in the area.
Scientists estimate the animal measured 12 to 15 feet long and weighed between 600 and 1,300 pounds, Science Daily reports. It was the only known crocodile species in the Hadar ecosystem and likely spent most of its life hidden in water.
Researchers think they hunted by ambush and waited for animals to approach before attacking. According to the research team, it was the largest predator in the region.
A Discovery Decades in the Making
The crocodile was officially identified after researchers examined 121 fossil remains from Ethiopia’s Hadar Formation.
The fossils included skulls, teeth and jaw fragments from many individuals. Scientists examining these remains realized that they were looking at a species that had never been described before.
Christopher Brochu, who has been studying ancient crocodiles for decades, first examined some of the fossils during a museum visit to Addis Ababa in 2016, Science Daily reports.
What caught his attention was an unusual combination of features that did not match any other known crocodile species.
Crocodile with a hump on its nose
One of the most distinctive features of Crocodylus lucivenator was the visible hump in the middle of its nose.
Researchers note that similar structures are found in American crocodiles but not in African Nile crocodiles.
The hump may have been used during courtship displays. The crocodile also had a longer snout than its nostrils than other crocodiles living at the time, giving it a different appearance than many of its relatives.
Fossils Reveal More Than Appears
Fossil records also gave clues about the life of the crocodile.
One jaw sample had several partially healed injuries; This shows that the animal survived a fight with another crocodile.
Similar face-biting behavior has been known throughout crocodile history and can be seen in both extinct and living species, according to researcher Stephanie Drumheller, Science Daily reports.
Healing wounds indicate that the animal lived long enough to recover from the encounter.
Longtime Resident of Lucy’s Landscape
While other crocodile species live further south in the East Rift Valley, Crocodylus lucivenator is the dominant crocodile in the Hadar region, researchers say.
The field has changed over time; forests, wetlands, shrublands, rivers, lakes and grasslands were formed. However, this genre persisted throughout these changes.
Today, Hadar remains one of the most important places in the world for understanding human origins. Fossils of Lucy and other early hominins have been uncovered, as well as evidence of animals sharing their environment, Science Daily reports.
Among these animals was a massive crocodile that lurked in the waterways of East Africa for millions of years, occupying the same landscape as some of humanity’s earliest known ancestors.
FAQ
Who was Lucy?
Lucy was the first human ancestor from the Australopithecus afarensis species.
What is Crocodylus lucivenator?
It is a newly described species of crocodile whose name means “Lucy’s hunter.”
