Wits student proves croc-like dinosaurs terrorised and eat herbivore dinosaurs
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits student discovers the cannibals of the dinosaur world.
Wits University masters student Rick Tolchard has discovered that croc-like carnivores terrorised Triassic dinosaurs in southern Africa millions of years ago.
The thought of one dinosaur eating another may seem like a cartoon skit to some but finally there is proof of this. Thanks to Tolchard, there is now evidence that giant, predatory croc-like animals that lived during the Triassic period in southern Africa preyed on early dinosaurs and mammal relatives 210 million years ago.
Tolchard explained the importance of such a discovery. He said, “These ancient fossils provide us with evidence of how at least two predator species hunted these vegetarian dinosaurs 210 million years ago. It is amazing to follow the clues left behind in fossilised teeth, jaws, limbs and other fossils to help us tell the ancient story of life in southern Africa.”
These predators, known as rauisuchians, preyed on early herbivore dinosaurs and their mammal relatives living at the time, explained Tolchard. Rauisuchians are closely related to crocodiles as we know them today. They had a diversity of body shapes and sizes during the Triassic period. The specimens described in this research include some of the largest carnivorous members of this group that were possibly up to 10m long with huge skulls full of serrated, curved teeth.
The fossils studied by Tolchard include teeth, pieces of jaws, hind limbs and body armour, all of which are can be described as parts of rauisuchians. He studied fossils from collections based at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Iziko South African Museum and the National Museum in Bloemfontein. He was joined in the research by an international team including researchers from the United States of America, Argentina and the United Kingdom.
Professor of Comparative Palaeobiology at Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute, Jonah Choiniere celebrated the discovery of Tolchard.
“Rick’s study demonstrates the value of re-examining old specimens and now we finally know what was preying on all those herbivorous dinosaurs,” said Choiniere.
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