This 23-foot crocodylian may have ruled South America’s food chain
Miocene South America was packed with giant prey—and the predators hunting them were just as spectacular. Fossil bite marks suggest crocodylians, especially the enormous Purussaurus neivensis, were more important predators than mammals in this ancient tropical ecosystem. At around seven meters long, Purussaurus may even have helped control populations of giant herbivores.
Millions of years ago, South America hosted an ecosystem teeming with enormous creatures, including formidable predators. During the Miocene epoch, a massive lake covered significant portions of the continent, providing a habitat for giant turtles, crocodylians, and a diverse array of hunters. Among these predators were anacondas, saber-toothed mammals, flightless terror birds, and sebecids, close relatives of modern crocodylians.
Despite fierce competition, a new study reveals that crocodylians played a crucial role in the ecosystem, being the most significant group of predators.
Oscar Wilson, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki, explains that the abundance of prey in the lake shores allowed massive predators to thrive. The region's herbivores included giant ground sloths, glyptodonts—relatives of armadillos with heavy builds—and various ungulates, some of which grew to over a metric ton in weight. This abundance of large herbivores supported predators that matched their size.
The largest predator in this ecosystem was Purussaurus neivensis, a massive crocodylian related to modern caimans. Reaching lengths of approximately seven meters and weighing around 1,800 kilograms, Purussaurus likely played a pivotal role in the food chain, potentially influencing the size of herbivore populations across the ecosystem. By examining fossilized remains of herbivores, researchers have identified bite and tooth marks left by these predators, offering direct evidence of their interactions.
These fossils, ranging from 10.5 million to 16 million years old, indicate that Purussaurus was a prominent predator in these ancient tropical communities. Wilson explains that the frequency of marks made by Purussaurus suggests it was a key predator in shaping the ecosystem, highlighting the significant influence of giant crocodylians on ancient South American communities. The study was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
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