Giant Crocodylians Identified as Dominant Predators in Miocene South America

A new study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology reveals that giant crocodylians were the most significant group of predators in South America during the Miocene epoch, over ten million years ago. Researchers analyzed fossil bite and tooth marks on herbivore remains, indicating that large crocodylians, such as the seven-meter-long Purussaurus neivensis, played a crucial role in shaping the ancient ecosystem and potentially influenced the size of herbivore populations.