level 8
发现的古鳄化石可能属于强壮沼王鳄Pallimnarchus pollens,一种生存于上新世到更新世澳洲大陆的大型马氏鳄科,过去曾经在双门齿兽的骨骼花市上发现过沼王鳄属的齿痕。此次发现的个体体型巨大,全长可能达到8米。
Croc and awe over dino-mite fossil found in northwest Queensland
SCIENTISTS have found what they believe to be the jawbone of an ancient "monster" crocodile at a remote station in northwest Queensland.
They estimate the extinct saltie could have been the length of a Brisbane City Council bus and may have once roamed as far south as the state's capital.
University of Queensland palaeontologist Gilbert Price said the fossil was found by masters student Bok Khoo, from the University of NSW, during a dig last month.
"It would have been a monster, bigger than anything we have likely seen before," Dr Price said.
"Possibly the biggest in Australia. It did not have any teeth attached but the tooth sockets alone were 35mm-40mm wide so you can imagine the teeth it had."
The front lower jaw bone was found near a disused road crossing along the Leichhardt River, near Floraville station, on July 10. It was found in an ancient riverbed deposit formed during the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods, one to two million years ago. Dr Price, who was on the dig, said the expedition involved keeping "one eye on the fossils and one on the riverbank" at all times.
The area is full of saltwater and freshwater crocs, sharks, rays," he said.
Scientists believe the ancient crocodile may belong to the genus Pallimnarchus, an extinct mekosuchine crocodylian from the Pliocene and Pleistocene period. They will conduct radiometric dating but believe it belongs to the species Pallimnarchus pollens - the largest of the genus.
"It was the apex predator and had a wide range, right down the east coast and inland to Lake Eyre, so it is incredible to think these monster crocs would have roamed where the city is today, when the climate was much different to today," Dr Price said.
2012年08月05日 05点08分