A Jurassic crocodile fossil reevaluated after decades of mistaken identity

An eye-catching fossil with a long snout probably made a lot of noise when it was discovered in Bavaria in the 1770s.

Modern scientists have recently taken a fresh look at the skull and understood that it had been misidentified for 60 years. Their work finally places him in the right place among the Jurassic crocodiles.

Researchers, including scientists from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, determined that the skull belonged to the species Mystriosaurus laurillardi. In the last 60 years, scientists have likened it to a similar species called Steneosaurus bollensis.

An analysis comparing the skull with other fossils from Germany and the United Kingdom allowed the team to draw this new conclusion. A study of the fang conducted by the Naturkunde-Museum Bielefeld in Germany appears in the current issue of the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.

"Understanding the complex history and anatomy of fossils like Mystriosaurus is necessary if we want to understand the diversification of crocodiles during the Jurassic," said Thursday in a statement the paleontologist of the University of Toronto. 39, Edinburgh, Mark Young.

Mystriosaurus laurillardi had sharp teeth, was about 4 meters long and nibbled fish. The illustration of the croc by an artist shows a creature that you would like to keep your hands away from – if it was not extinguished.

It is not always necessary to dig the earth to advance the science of paleontology. A report released earlier this year highlighted the discovery of a prehistoric lion long hidden in a museum drawer.