Found fossil 'cat crocodile' in East Africa

A group of paleontologists has excavated the fossil of a tiny crocodile whose teeth have exactly the same characteristics as the cats in the Rukwa Rift Valley of the United Republic of Tanzania, East Africa.

According to Guardian (UK) magazine, the animal is named Pakasuchus kapilimai, the word 'Paka' in Swahili - Tanzania's main language - meaning 'cat' and 'suchus' in Greek meaning ' crocodile ' , and the latter part of the name ' kapilimai ' in honor of Saidi Kapilimai researcher working at Dar es Salaam University, Tanzania - head of this animal fossil discovery project.

Sandstone cliffs in the Rukwa Rift valley - where fossils of cat crocodile Pakasuchus kapilimai are discovered.Photo: Eric Roberts, James Cook University (Australia).

Cat crocodiles live 100 million years ago in the Cretaceous period in a vast estuarine area with extremely rich vegetation, which today is sub-Saharan Africa - geographic terms used to describe an area of ​​the African continent located in the southern Sahara.

Anatomy professor Patrick O'Connor, research co-author at Ohio University, USA, said the head of a cat crocodile can fit in the palm, the jaw is strong and has many horns on it. back and tail but less than modern crocodile, this makes cat crocodile body more agile.

The difference between Pakasuchus kapilimai cat crocodile teeth (photo above)
and modern crocodile. Photo: Zina Deretsky / NSF & Beverly Joubert / NG

The most bizarre characteristic of cat crocodiles is in the teeth.While modern crocodile teeth are conical, sharp and sharp to grab and tear off prey, the teeth of cat crocodile Pakasuchus kapilimai are diverse including fangs, premolars and molars;Besides, it also has a quite flexible backbone.

The sketch of the habitat of cat crocodile Pakasuchus kapilimai,
He is dancing 'biting' insects. Photo: Mark Witton, Portsmouth University (England)

In an article published in Nature, scientists say the cat crocodile Pakasuchus kapilimai belongs to a group of extinct crocodiles known as notosuchians, living in the Cretaceous (100-65 million years ago). .These animals occupy certain ecological areas during the Cretaceous period when the southern supercontinent Gondwana began to split into Africa and later India, Australia, Madagascar and Antarctica due to its time At this point, there are few mammals living (due to rare fossils discovered today).

Scientists believe cat crocodile Pakasuchus kapilimai has a predominantly land-based habitat, its favorite food is insects and other smaller animals.