Key Takeaways
- Oldest crocodile eggshells in Australia discovered, dating back 55 million years
- Belonged to tree-hunting ‘drop crocs’ that ambushed prey from above
- Fossils found in Queensland clay pit reveal ancient ecosystem details
Scientists have uncovered Australia’s oldest-known crocodile eggshells, revealing a bizarre species that hunted from trees 55 million years ago. The discovery predates modern saltwater and freshwater crocodiles by epochs, offering unprecedented insights into prehistoric Australia.
Ancient ‘Drop Crocs’ That Hunted Like Leopards
Researchers discovered the eggshell fossils at a clay pit in Murgon, Queensland, where excavations have continued for decades. The site provides a unique window into when Australia remained connected to Antarctica and South America.
The eggshells belong to the mekosuchine clade of extinct crocodiles that dominated inland waters. Named Wakkaoolithus godthelpi after the Wakka Wakka First Nations people, these reptiles grew up to five meters long.
“Some were also apparently at least partly semi-arboreal ‘drop crocs’,” said palaeontologist Michael Archer from the University of New South Wales. “They were perhaps hunting like leopards – dropping out of trees on any unsuspecting thing they fancied for dinner.”
Eggshells Reveal Ancient Breeding Habits
The extinct crocodiles laid eggs on lake margins, adapting their reproductive strategy to changing conditions. As waterways shrank and large prey dwindled, they evolved new survival tactics.
Study lead author Xavier Panadès i Blas emphasized the importance of eggshell research: “Eggshells should be a routine, standard component of palaeontological research, collected, curated and analysed alongside bones and teeth.”
He explained that eggshells “preserve microstructural and geochemical signals that tell us not only what kinds of animals laid them, but also where they nested and how they bred.”
Prehistoric Ecosystem Reconstruction
Further excavations could reveal more about Australia’s prehistoric ecosystems before continental separation. Michael Stein noted the forest also hosted “the world’s oldest-known songbirds, Australia’s earliest frogs and snakes, small mammals with South American links, and one of the world’s oldest known bats.”
The Murgon site continues to be a treasure trove for understanding and ancient predator behavior.
