In a stunning revelation from the depths of prehistory, a formidable new species of crocodile has been identified from a fossil discovered on Britain's famed Jurassic Coast. Dubbed Turnersuchus hingleyae, this ancient 'river boss' patrolled the waters of what is now Dorset some 150 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic period.
The significant discovery was made when a fossil, initially unearthed in 2017 from the cliffs near Charmouth, was subjected to meticulous analysis. Palaeontologists from the University of Edinburgh and the Natural History Museum have now confirmed it represents a previously unknown branch of the thalattosuchian family tree – a group of ancient crocodilian relatives.
A Fearsome Predator of the Jurassic Seas
What sets the 'River Boss' apart is its immense size and formidable anatomy. While the recovered fossil consists of a head, backbone, and limbs, experts estimate the full creature would have measured over two metres in length. It possessed long, slender jaws lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, perfectly adapted for snatching fish and other unsuspecting prey.
As a thalattosuchian, Turnersuchus hingleyae is an ancestral forerunner to the more well-known ocean-dwelling metriorhynchids that evolved later. This crucial find helps to fill a frustrating 'ghost lineage' in the fossil record, providing the missing link scientists had long theorised must exist.
Why This Discovery Matters
The identification of this new species is more than just adding a name to a prehistoric roster; it fundamentally alters our understanding of the Jurassic ecosystem. This giant crocodile was a contemporary and likely a competitor of the dinosaurs, ruling the coastal waterways and river systems.
Dr. Eric Wilberg, a lead researcher on the study, emphasised the importance of the find: "The discovery of such a complete specimen helps us piece together the evolutionary puzzle of how these crocodilians began to adapt to a life in the oceans, a transition that would eventually lead to some of the most fearsome marine predators the world has ever seen."
This 'River Boss' now takes its rightful place as a apex predator of its time, a testament to the rich and still-unfolding history buried within the cliffs of the British coast.
