Crocodylus anthropophagus
Encyclopedia
Crocodylus anthropophagus is an extinct species
of crocodile
from Plio-Pleistocene
from Tanzania
. It lived 1.84 million years ago.
. The specific name anthropophagus is from Greek word "anthropos" that means "human" and Greek word "phagos" that means "eater", in reference to the evidence that this animal included hominids in its diet.
, Olduvai Gorge
in the northern Tanzania
. Its type locality is near the type localities for the hominids Homo habilis
and Paranthropus boisei
.
, NNHM
-OLD-1001, a partial skull
and skeleton
. Additional specimens include NHM
R.5891, cranial and postcrania
l fragments, NHM R.5893, partial skull and skeleton, NHM R.5894, postcranial elements, KNM
CROC K (Crocodile Korongo) OLD 62, partial skull
, OLD 62 069/5866, right squamosal and quadrate ramus and OLD 1960, right postdentary elements of mandible
.
It had prominent triangular “horns” over the ears and a relatively deep snout, these resemble those of the recently extinct Malagasy crocodile Voay robustus, but the Crocodylus anthropophagus lacks features found among osteolaemines and shares derived similarities with living species of Crocodylus.
, as indicated by hominid specimens preserving crocodile bite marks from these sites.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
from Plio-Pleistocene
Plio-Pleistocene
The term Plio-Pleistocene refers to the geological period more recent than circa 5 million years ago, incorporating both the formally defined epochs of the Pliocene and the Pleistocene...
from Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. It lived 1.84 million years ago.
Etymology
Crocodylus anthropophagus was first named by Christopher A. Brochu, Jackson Njau, Robert J. Blumenschine and Llewellyn D. Densmore in 20102010 in paleontology
-Anomalocaridids:-Newly named crustaceans:-Newly named insects:* A new family, Cascopleciidae, is published by Poinar Jr.* A new family of ceraphronoid Hymenopters, Radiophronidae, is published by Ortega-Blanco, Rasnitsyn, and Delclòs....
. The specific name anthropophagus is from Greek word "anthropos" that means "human" and Greek word "phagos" that means "eater", in reference to the evidence that this animal included hominids in its diet.
Distribution
The type locality is Plio-PleistocenePlio-Pleistocene
The term Plio-Pleistocene refers to the geological period more recent than circa 5 million years ago, incorporating both the formally defined epochs of the Pliocene and the Pleistocene...
, Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge
The Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley that stretches through eastern Africa. It is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about long. It is located 45 km from the Laetoli archaeological site...
in the northern Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. Its type locality is near the type localities for the hominids Homo habilis
Homo habilis
Homo habilis is a species of the genus Homo, which lived from approximately at the beginning of the Pleistocene period. The discovery and description of this species is credited to both Mary and Louis Leakey, who found fossils in Tanzania, East Africa, between 1962 and 1964. Homo habilis Homo...
and Paranthropus boisei
Paranthropus boisei
Paranthropus boisei was an early hominin and described as the largest of the Paranthropus species...
.
Description
The description is based on the holotypeHolotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
, NNHM
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
-OLD-1001, a partial skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
and skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
. Additional specimens include NHM
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
R.5891, cranial and postcrania
Postcrania
Postcrania[p] in zoology and vertebrate paleontology refers to all or part of the skeleton apart from the skull. Frequently, fossil remains, e.g...
l fragments, NHM R.5893, partial skull and skeleton, NHM R.5894, postcranial elements, KNM
National Museums of Kenya
The National Museums of Kenya is a State Corporation that manages Museums, Sites and Monuments in Kenya. It also practices scientific research. Its headquarters and the National Museum are located on Museum Hill, near Uhuru Highway between Central Business District and Westlands in Nairobi...
CROC K (Crocodile Korongo) OLD 62, partial skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
, OLD 62 069/5866, right squamosal and quadrate ramus and OLD 1960, right postdentary elements of mandible
Mandible
The mandible pronunciation or inferior maxillary bone forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place...
.
It had prominent triangular “horns” over the ears and a relatively deep snout, these resemble those of the recently extinct Malagasy crocodile Voay robustus, but the Crocodylus anthropophagus lacks features found among osteolaemines and shares derived similarities with living species of Crocodylus.
Paleoecology
Crocodylus anthropophagus was the largest predator encountered by human ancestors at Olduvai GorgeOlduvai Gorge
The Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley that stretches through eastern Africa. It is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about long. It is located 45 km from the Laetoli archaeological site...
, as indicated by hominid specimens preserving crocodile bite marks from these sites.