Scientists discovered a 200-million-year-old dinosaur fossil in Arizona; This crocodile cousin walked on 2 legs!

Corcodile relative, Sonselasuchus cedrus used to walk on two legs. (Image: Gabriel Ugueto)

• New crocodile relative discovered from 200 million years ago.
• Sonselasuchus cedrus walked on two legs, unlike modern crocodiles.
• Ancient crocodile relatives were diverse and unique, study finds.

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Crocodiles are one of the most dangerous animals that exist in the wild. They have the strongest bite and can live on land as well as underwater. Does any other animal have such ability? Well according to a recent study, a previously unknown reptile species has been discovered.

This lived around 200 million years ago, shedding new light on the strange diversity of ancient crocodile relatives. The remains date back to the Late Triassic, a time when dinosaurs were just beginning to dominate the planet and many unusual reptile groups roamed Earth.

What did researchers find?

Scientists have uncovered fossils of a previously unknown reptile species that lived about 200 million years ago. The remains were discovered in Petrified Forest National Park. This area is famous for its rich prehistoric fossil beds.

The newly identified species, Sonselasuchus cedrus, lived during the Late Triassic period. What makes the discovery fascinating is that this reptile walked on two legs. This species is rarely associated with crocodile as they are relatives.

 Sonselasuchus cedrus: A crocodile relative that walked on two legs

This fossil found is the ancestors of modern Crocodiles. Its appearance is different from crocodiles we see today.  The creature was roughly the size of a small dog, with long hind legs and shorter front limbs.

These features suggest that as it reached at an adult stage, the reptile likely moved mainly on two legs. This posture is more similar to certain dinosaurs than to crocodiles. It also had a toothless beak and large eye sockets. This is more unusual reptiles from its time.

How did scientists study it?

One reason scientists were able to understand the animal so well is the large number of fossils discovered at the same site. Since 2014, researchers have collected hundreds of fossil bones belonging to this species.

By comparing bones from individuals of different ages, the team noticed how the animal’s body changed as it grew. Younger reptiles may have walked on four legs, but their hind limbs developed as they aged, allowing them to stand and move on two legs.

A strange group of ancient reptiles

The reptile belonged to a group known as shuvosaurids. This is an unusual branch of reptiles that were part of the crocodile family tree but had very different body shapes.

Unlike modern crocodiles with heavy bodies and powerful jaws, these ancient relatives were often slender, upright and sometimes bird-like in appearance.

What the discovery reveals about evolution?

The find shows how unexpected and diverse prehistoric life could be. Even reptiles related to crocodiles were evolving in surprising ways. Scientists say the discovery highlights convergent evolution when unrelated animals end up looking similar because they adapt to comparable lifestyles.

In this case, a crocodile relative evolved a body shape that resembled certain Dinosaurs, despite coming from a completely different lineage. Together, these fossils offer a fascinating glimpse into a world where the ancestors of crocodiles once walked the Earth on two legs.