Crocodile, 93 million years old, found with baby dinosaur inside its stomach

Crocodile, 93 million years old, found with baby dinosaur inside its stomach
Giant croc
George McMillan

By George McMillan


Published: 21/02/2022

- 13:16

It has been named the Confractosuchus Sauroktonos which translates to "broken crocodile dinosaur killer"

Scientists have discovered a 93 million-year-old prehistoric crocodile with an infant dinosaur inside its stomach.

The report from Gondwana Research said the crocodile was around 2.5 metres in length.


The body was 35 percent preserved with its teeth intact after the mud surrounding it hardened, encasing the body.

This meant it was able to be scanned and analysed by the scientists to discover more about the reptile.

The results of the scan suggested to scientists that it died in a flood.

It has been named the Confractosuchus Sauroktonos which translates to "broken crocodile dinosaur killer" after the dinosaur was found in the stomach.

A co-author of the study said he had spotted a “buried bone” seven years ago that looked “like a chicken bone with a hook on it”.

"The fossilised remains were found in a large boulder. Concretions often form when organic matter, or say a crocodile, sinks to the bottom of a river," he told Indy100.

Although bones of the small "chicken-sized juvenile dinosaur in the gut" were found, its species is yet to be identified.

Dr Bevitt told Australian Nuclear Science and Technology “The results were outstanding in providing an entire picture of the crocodile and its last meal, a partially digested juvenile dinosaur.”

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