Mekosuchinae facts for kids
Mekosuchinae were a group of ancient crocodiles that are now extinct. They lived in Australia and the South Pacific islands. Their fossils show they first appeared in Australia during a time called the Eocene epoch. They survived for a very long time, even until humans arrived. In Australia, they disappeared during the Pleistocene epoch, but on Pacific islands like Fiji, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, they lasted until the Holocene epoch.
Scientists sometimes debate if Mekosuchinae were a special group within the crocodile family, or if they were a completely separate family of their own, called Mekosuchidae.
Quick facts for kids Mekosuchinae |
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| Life restoration of Mekosuchus inexpectatus | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Family: | Crocodylidae |
| Subfamily: | †Mekosuchinae Willis, Molnar & Scanlon, 1993 |
| Type species | |
| †Mekosuchus inexpectatus Balouet & Buffetaut, 1987
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| Genera | |
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Contents
Amazing Ancient Crocodiles
Mekosuchine crocodiles were a very diverse group, meaning they came in many different shapes and sizes.
Tree-Climbing Crocs?
One of the last species, Mekosuchus inexpectatus, lived in New Caledonia during the Holocene. Some scientists think this crocodile might have been able to climb trees!
False Gharial Look-Alikes
Another interesting species was Harpacochampsa camfieldensis, which lived during the early Miocene epoch. It might have looked a bit like a false gharial, which has a very long, thin snout.
New Zealand Discovery
Scientists have also found an undescribed mekosuchine fossil in New Zealand. This shows how widespread these crocodiles once were.
Island Hoppers
One group of mekosuchines, the Mekosuchus genus, managed to spread to the islands of the Pacific Ocean. It's believed they "island-hopped" across the Coral Sea. This means they moved from one island to another, perhaps by floating on logs or debris, first reaching a now-underwater island called Greater Chesterfield Island, then New Caledonia, and finally other islands.
Top Predators of Australia
During the Pleistocene epoch, a mekosuchine crocodile called Quinkana was one of the most powerful land predators in Australia. It was a true apex predator, meaning it was at the top of the food chain.
Why Did They Disappear?
Mekosuchines faced a big decline in Australia after the Miocene epoch. Most of their different types became extinct in Australia by the end of the Pliocene epoch. Only Quinkana and Paludirex survived longer, but they also died out during the Quaternary extinction event.
After these last Australian types disappeared, mekosuchines continued to live on the islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. However, when humans arrived on these islands, the remaining mekosuchines soon became extinct. It is thought that humans played a role in their disappearance.
Images for kids
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Mekosuchus inexpectatus
See also
In Spanish: Mekosuquinos para niños
