Ancient bones identified ocean predator

Scientists have found that the prehistoric remains discovered more than a century ago near Peterborough belonged to a prehistoric ocean predator.

A team of experts led by the University of Edinburgh studied the bones and suggested that the old creature was distantly related to modern-day crocodiles.

Study of the ancient skeletons found in the early 1900s revealed that the creature had pointed saw-like teeth and a large jaw which were appropriate for gobbling up large prey.

Researchers claim that the species named Tyrannoneustes lythrodectikos, meaning blood-biting tyrant swimmer, belonged to a group of crocodiles that were similar to dolphins.

According to the study published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, the findings will help scientists better understand how marine reptiles were evolving about 165 million years ago.

“It is satisfying to be able to classify a specimen that has been unexamined for more than 100 years, and doubly so to find that this discovery improves our understanding of the evolution of marine reptiles,” said Dr Mark Young of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences.

The found skeletons are held at Glasgow’s Hunterian museum in Scotland.

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