Abdominal contents reveal Cretaceous crocodyliforms ate dinosaurs

Abstract

Crocodylians are among Earth’s most successful hyper-carnivores, with
their crocodyliform ancestors persisting since the Triassic. The diets
of extinct crocodyliforms are typically inferred from distinctive
bite-marks on fossil bone, which indicate that some species fed on contemporaneous dinosaurs. Nevertheless, the most direct dietary
evidence (i.e. preserved gut contents) of these interactions in fossil crocodyliforms has been elusive. Here we report on a new
crocodyliform, Confractosuchus sauroktonos gen. et sp. nov., from the Cenomanian (92.5–104 Ma) of Australia, with exceptionally preserved
abdominal contents comprising parts of a juvenile ornithopod dinosaur.
A phylogenetic analysis recovered Confractosuchus as the sister taxon
to a clade comprising susisuchids and hylaeochampsids. The ornithopod
remains displayed clear evidence of oral processing, carcass reduction (dismemberment) and bone fragmentation, which are diagnostic hallmarks
of some modern crocodylian feeding behaviour. Nevertheless, a
macro-generalist feeding strategy for Confractosuchus similar to
extant crocodylians is supported by a morphometric analysis of the
skull and reveals that dietary versatility accompanied the modular
assembly of the modern crocodylian bauplan. Of further interest, these ornithopod bones represent the first skeletal remains of the group
from the Winton Formation, previously only known from shed teeth and
tracks, and may represent a novel taxon.

Open access:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.01.016

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On Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 10:21:18 AM UTC-5, Pandora wrote:

Abdominal contents reveal Cretaceous crocodyliforms ate dinosaurs

Abstract

Crocodylians are among Earth’s most successful hyper-carnivores, with their crocodyliform ancestors persisting since the Triassic. The diets
of extinct crocodyliforms are typically inferred from distinctive
bite-marks on fossil bone, which indicate that some species fed on contemporaneous dinosaurs. Nevertheless, the most direct dietary
evidence (i.e. preserved gut contents) of these interactions in fossil crocodyliforms has been elusive. Here we report on a new
crocodyliform, Confractosuchus sauroktonos gen. et sp. nov., from the Cenomanian (92.5–104 Ma) of Australia, with exceptionally preserved abdominal contents comprising parts of a juvenile ornithopod dinosaur.
A phylogenetic analysis recovered Confractosuchus as the sister taxon
to a clade comprising susisuchids and hylaeochampsids. The ornithopod remains displayed clear evidence of oral processing, carcass reduction (dismemberment) and bone fragmentation, which are diagnostic hallmarks
of some modern crocodylian feeding behaviour. Nevertheless, a macro-generalist feeding strategy for Confractosuchus similar to
extant crocodylians is supported by a morphometric analysis of the
skull and reveals that dietary versatility accompanied the modular
assembly of the modern crocodylian bauplan. Of further interest, these ornithopod bones represent the first skeletal remains of the group
from the Winton Formation, previously only known from shed teeth and
tracks, and may represent a novel taxon.

Open access:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.01.016

Extant crocodiles get big too: https://www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7492839/amp/The-biggest-crocodile-caught-Australia-shot-Polish-woman-Krystyna-Pawlowski.html?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=
mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16478660231442&amp_ct=1647866028969&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fnews%2Farticle-7492839%2FThe-biggest-crocodile-caught-Australia-shot-Polish-
woman-Krystyna-Pawlowski.html

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