Fossilized Crocodile Discovered in the Ocucaje Desert of Peru.
Ancient crocodile fossil in Peru. (Photo: Reuters).
Paleontologist Mario Gamarra from the Geological Institute of the Peruvian government reported that this fossil belongs to a juvenile gharial crocodile measuring between 3-4 meters in length. Adult members of this species can grow to lengths of 8-9 meters. This marks the first instance where scientists have discovered a fossil of a juvenile crocodile.
Paleontologist Mario Gamarra stated: “Gharial crocodiles no longer exist in Peru. In fact, they are extinct across the entire American continent. The only place in the world where gharial crocodiles still survive is in Asia, particularly in India. This discovery illustrates the geographical range of gharial crocodiles in the past. They were not confined to Asia; they also lived in other regions of the world such as Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela.”
The gharial crocodile is characterized by its long, slender snout, which is specialized for catching fish. The discovery of the gharial fossil in the Ocucaje Desert sheds light on the evolution of marine crocodile species. This finding also reinforces the significance of the Ocucaje Desert as a crucial site for global paleontological research. Previously, this region has yielded fossils of four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks, and other species that lived during the Miocene epoch—ranging from 5 to 23 million years ago.
