Giant Crocodylians Were Apex Predators in Miocene South America, Study Finds

A new study in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, based on fossil analysis, indicates that giant crocodylians, including the 7-meter-long, 1,800-kilogram Purussaurus neivensis, were the dominant predators in Miocene South America. These massive reptiles significantly influenced herbivore populations in the region's ancient lake environments, shaping prehistoric ecosystems.