An ancient crocodile species that lived around 120 million years ago may have walked on two hind legs - just like dinosaurs, scientists believe.

Their work is based on an analysis of large, well-preserved footprints discovered at the Sacheon Jahye-ri excavation site in South Korea.

The researchers first thought the fossilised foot impressions were from another ancient reptile known as the pterosaur.

But investigations revealed the footprints to have heel-to-toe impressions, which the palaeontologists believe were unlikely to have been made by the flying reptiles.

Dr Anthony Romilio, from the University of Queensland in Australia and one of the study authors, said: "At one site, the footprints were initially thought to be made by a giant bipedal pterosaur walking on the mudflat, we now understand that these were bipedal crocodile prints."

The team also initially questioned the absence of handprints from the trackways, given that modern crocodiles are four-legged, or quadrupedal, creatures.

But the fine details of the toe-pads and scales on the creatures' soles preserved at the site are thought to prove otherwise.

Dr Romilio said: "The footprints measure around 24 centimetres, suggesting the track-makers had legs about the same height as human adult legs.

"These were long animals that we estimate were over three metres in length."

Professor Kyung Soo Kim, from Chinju National University of Education in South Korea, who led the research, said that while the footprints indicate the animals were moving in the same way as many two-legged dinosaurs, the impressions at the Sacheon Jahye-ri site show clear heel impressions like those made by crocodiles.

He said: "Dinosaurs and their bird descendants walk on their toes.

"Crocodiles walk on the flat of their feet leaving clear heel impressions, like humans do."

Dated between 110-120 million years old, the footprints are thought to belong to a new species of crocodylomorph, which are ancestors to modern-day crocodiles and alligators.

However, the trackways showed the animals to have a narrower stance than crocodiles.

Prof Kim said: "Typical crocodiles walk in a squat stance and create trackways that are wide.

"Oddly, our trackways are very narrow looking - more like a crocodile balancing on a tight-rope.

"When combined with the lack of any tail-drag marks, it became clear that these creatures were moving bipedally."

The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Source: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/ancient-120million-year-old-crocodile-22177256

Until science tell us the animals that lived on this Earth more than a billion to trillion years ago...I'll not take them.serious.....

My people My people...
Macsjebs on the the beat again

Like if you believe...share if you don't

StephenBB:
My people My people...
Macsjebs on the the beat again

Like if you believe...share if you don't

lol, don't be too expectant sha, may not get to front page

Make una leave this animals na....

Face Corona..

This guy's no get work I swear. How does this discovery help life on Earth?

Macsjebs:

lol, don't be too expectant sha, may not get to front page

I can bet with my phone that it'll get to fp.
Just wait and see...
Is not this millions and billions years ago stories!

Okay

that's their problem they keep looking for things that have passed... In other words bringing more trouble for us...
One day we go hear say, one creature don enter street from lab

scrolldown88:
This guy's no get work I swear. How does this discovery help life on Earth?

yanabasee1:



Until science tell us the animals that lived on this Earth more than a billion to trillion years ago...I'll not take them.serious.....

You dey mind this people? They just dey quote years anyhow.

crocky

We need proof

Let me just doubt this footprint stuff for once.

How huge were these creatures that their footprint could cause so much large depressions that could remain for millions of years?

What type of soil will leave the footprints for millions of years? Won't rain, wind or activities of other animals fill the print with surrounding sand?

Dinosaurs

scrolldown88:
This guy's no get work I swear. How does this discovery help life on Earth?

It helps cos it enable us to know our ancient and accestrial BoneBeings that liveth on earth before being Guwarad to oblivion by nature