By RIA Novosti
Rio De Janeiro : Brazilian scientists have found the fossil of a previously unknown species of marine crocodile, which lived 62 million years ago and survived the dinosaurs, researchers said.
The species “Guarinisuchus munizi”, found in the northeast coastal region of Pernambuco, has given rise to new theories about the migration of pre-historic animals.
Alexander Kellner of the National Museum here said: “Based on the discovery, we know what happened near the Brazilian coast. Now the question is whether the same happened worldwide. We believe it did.”
Scientists believe that the crocodile, which is three meters long, originated on the African continent and then migrated to South America and then onto North America.
The fossil, which includes a skull, jaw and vertebrae, is in good condition allowing scientists to create a full-scale model of the crocodile that will soon go on display in the national museum.
South American palaeontologists have made two other key discoveries of reptiles in recent years.
A 70 million-year-old crocodile, dubbed the “Terrible Crocodile of Uberaba,” was discovered in 2006, and more recently, in January scientists have found an 80 million-year-old land reptile, which is believed to be the missing link between modern-day and prehistoric crocodiles.