Life
Briefing: Meet Crocodylus lucivenator, a 12- to 15-foot predator that hunted iconic Lucy's species
Strategic angle: More than 3 million years ago, when our ancient ancestors embodied by the iconic Lucy were roaming the African landscape, they would have feared a big, bad crocodile with a prominent lump on its head.
editorial-staff
1 min read
Updated about 1 month ago
Crocodylus lucivenator, a large crocodilian species measuring between 12 to 15 feet, inhabited ancient African waterways more than 3 million years ago.
This predator likely posed a threat to early hominins, including the species represented by the famous fossil Lucy, as it hunted in rivers and lakes.
The presence of such a formidable predator would have influenced the behavior and habitat choices of early human ancestors, highlighting the interconnectedness of species in ancient ecosystems.