Ancient 'cat-like' crocodile had bite like a mammal

[Judi Lynn]

4 August 2010 Last updated at 17:19 ET
Ancient 'cat-like' crocodile had bite like a mammal
By Katia Moskvitch
Science reporter, BBC News

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/media/images/48605000/jpg/_48605951_48605952.jpg

Long ago, crocodile-like creatures might have hunted dragonflies

Palaeontologists working in Tanzania have unearthed fossils of a tiny crocodile-like creature with teeth resembling those of mammals.

The animal, Pakasuchus kapilimai, lived between 144 and 65 million years ago - during the Cretaceous - in what is now sub-Saharan Africa.

Scientists say the find shows that crocs were once more diverse than they are today.

The team reports its discovery in the journal Nature.

Paka means "cat" in Kiswahili, Tanzania's official language, and refers to the reptile's short, low skull with slicing, molar-like teeth.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10874312

[xchrom]

1. Attack of the killer Catcroc! Nt

[Chulanowa]

2. I love all the new discoveries

it seems that all the really "cool" critters are only just now showing up. Ecological niches we never thought of, evidence of physical structures we hadn't thought of (such as the ornithosuchans that had feather-like quill "hair") and now... hoppingdiles.

[madrchsod]

3. another script for a syfy channel movie!