Scientists have discovered a crocodile that may have hunted human ancestors

The study was published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

The new species was named Crocodylus lucivenator. Its remains were found in the Afar region of Ethiopia, the same place where fossils of one of the most famous human ancestors were discovered.

Details

Scientists say this crocodile lived about 3.4 to 3 million years ago, when the region was inhabited by Australopithecus afarensis, an ancient hominin to which the famous find named Lucy belongs.

Lucy is one of the most famous early human ancestors. Her skeleton was discovered in 1974, and it provided important evidence that our distant ancestors were already travelling on two legs.

Researchers estimate that Crocodylus lucivenator adults reached 12-15 feet (about 3.5-4.5 metres) in length and could weigh up to 600 kilograms.

Crocodiles lived in rivers and lakes and hunted from ambush - much like modern members of the family. They could wait for animals that came to the water.

What it means

According to scientists, such predators may well have attacked early hominins.

"This was the largest predator in that ecosystem - even more dangerous than lions and hyenas," the researchers note.

Crocodylus lucivenator was characterised by several unusual features

It had:

• a distinctive bulge on the muzzle
• elongated jaw
• large eye sockets.

Scientists suggest that the bulge on the muzzle could have been used by males to display during mating rituals.

The researchers studied 121 fossils, including skulls, teeth and jaw fragments. The fossils were found at the famous Hadar palaeontological site, which is known for its many findings related to early human evolution.

The region has remained one of the most important sites for the study of human origins for decades.

Background

Hadar in Ethiopia is considered one of the most famous palaeontological sites in the world. It is where numerous fossils of early hominins, including the famous Lucy, have been discovered.

Source

Christopher Brochu et al, Lucy's Peril: A Pliocene Crocodile from the Hadar Formation, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology (2026)