9.26m is the maximum length of crocodile ancestors today

The ancestors of alligators today, have been hiding in coastal areas and estuaries about 150 million years ago, with a length of up to 9.26m from the nose to the tail.

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The result is a study by a group of paleontologists published in the British journal Royal Society Open Science published on October 15.

Artwork: thecourier.co.uk

Paleontologists from many European countries have learned about an ancient crocodile called Machimosaurus . After a selective study of fossil teeth and fragments of the jaw, the skull of an ancient crocodile is preserved in museums, scientists conclude that the Machimosaurus crocodile family consists of three species in Europe and the fourth species in Ethiopia.

The smallest species of the Machimosaurus family is Machimosaurus buffetauti in Europe with a length of about 5.8m, while the largest species is Machimosaurus hugii in Europe, with a length of up to 9.26m, nearly 1.5 times the size. The longest crocodiles today. However, the size of the crocodile species in Ethiopia has not yet estimated the specific length.

The above four species of crocodiles all lived in the late Jurassic period, the period from 161-145 million years ago. This is also the time of the crocodile evolution. The food of these "giant" animals can be turtles or hard scales.

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