Prehistoric Predator: Fossil Reveals Dinosaur Devouring Ancient Crocodile
In a stunning paleontological breakthrough, scientists have uncovered the fossilized remains of a dinosaur with its last meal still in its mouth—a crocodile bone lodged between its jaws. The discovery, made in Argentina’s Lago Colhué Huapi Formation, sheds light on the feeding habits of a newly identified species named Joaquinraptor casali.
This formidable predator belonged to the megaraptoran family, a group of theropods known for their elongated skulls, muscular forearms, and massive claws. Measuring over 23 feet (7 meters) in length and weighing more than a ton, Joaquinraptor likely ruled the humid floodplains of prehistoric Patagonia some 66–70 million years ago.
What makes this find extraordinary is the presence of a crocodile limb bone pressed against the dinosaur’s lower jaw—suggesting it may have been caught mid-feast or shortly after a kill. Fossils that preserve such direct evidence of diet are exceedingly rare, offering scientists a rare glimpse into ancient predator-prey dynamics.
“This fossilized behavior, if that’s really what this is, comes along so rarely that you’ve just got to celebrate it when it does,” said Matthew Lamanna, paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, in an interview with National Geographic.
The specimen is one of the most complete megaraptor fossils ever found, including parts of the skull, limbs, ribs, and vertebrae. Researchers estimate the dinosaur was around 19 years old at the time of death, though the exact cause remains unknown.
Named in honor of paleontologist Lucio Ibiricu’s son, Joaquinraptor casali not only fills a major gap in the megaraptoran lineage but also reinforces the idea that these dinosaurs were apex predators in their ecosystems.
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