Remarkable Fossil Reveals a 12-Million-Year-Old Crocodile

On Wednesday, paleontologists revealed the fossil of a young marine crocodile, estimated to be 10 to 12 million years old, uncovered in a Peruvian desert. The three-meter-long (nearly 10-foot) gharial, or fish-eating crocodile, was discovered in late 2023 in the Ocucaje Desert, about 350 kilometers (190 miles) south of Lima, in near-perfect condition.

“This is the first juvenile specimen we’ve found,” said vertebrate paleontologist Mario Gamarra during a news conference. “It hadn’t yet reached its full size when it died.”

Gamarra, who led the fossil’s reconstruction, noted that the skull and jaws of this ancient crocodile differed from modern crocodiles and alligators. “It had an elongated snout and fed exclusively on fish,” he explained. “Its closest living relative is the Indian gharial.”

The discovery was a collaborative effort between Peru’s Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Institute and La Union School.

The Ocucaje Desert is a treasure trove of fossils. Previous finds from the Miocene period (5 to 23 million years ago) include remains of four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks, and other ancient species.

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