Lucy’s hunter revealed: Giant crocodile terrorized early human ancestors
Key takeaways
- More than 3 million years ago, the famous early human ancestor Lucy and her relatives shared the landscape of East Africa with a formidable predator.
- Now, a University of Iowa-led team has identified that reptile as a previously unknown species.
- The crocodile lived between 3.4 million and 3 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia, during the same period and in the same region inhabited by Lucy and her species, Australopithecus afarensis.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
More than 3 million years ago, the famous early human ancestor Lucy and her relatives shared the landscape of East Africa with a formidable predator. Hidden in rivers and lakes, a massive crocodile with a distinctive hump on its snout likely posed one of the greatest dangers to these ancient hominins.
Now, a University of Iowa-led team has identified that reptile as a previously unknown species. In a study published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, researchers formally describe the crocodile and name it Crocodylus lucivenator, meaning "Lucy's hunter."
The name reflects the animal's place in history. The crocodile lived between 3.4 million and 3 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia, during the same period and in the same region inhabited by Lucy and her species, Australopithecus afarensis.