Morocco discovery reveals new species of prehistoric crocodile

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and Hassan II University of Casablanca have identified a new species of prehistoric crocodile, Ctenosuchus tenuidens, in Morocco. Dating back approximately 170 million years to the Jurassic period, the fossils were discovered in the Talsint–Anoual region of the Figuig province within the Atlas Mountains.

The species is distinguished by its unique morphology, featuring an exceptionally slender jaw and needle-like teeth. These teeth are approximately ten times taller than they are wide, with an average spacing of only 2.3 millimeters. This specialized dentition suggests the creature had a specific diet, likely consisting of soft prey such as small fish, worms, and crustaceans like fairy shrimp, rather than larger animals that might have broken its delicate teeth.

The discovery, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, indicates that Jurassic crocodile relatives occupied a broader range of habitats and ecological roles than previously understood.