Paleontologists in Switzerland have unveiled the nearly complete skeleton of a 145-million-year-old armored marine crocodilian discovered in the limestone beds of the Jura Mountains. This newly identified species, distinct from its terrestrial cousins, evolved specialized paddle-like fins and a streamlined body, indicating it was an apex predator in the shallow Tethys Sea that once covered much of Europe.
The specimen is particularly significant for its exquisite preservation, which includes visible dermal scutes and the contents of its last meal. Researchers from the Zurich Museum of Paleontology state that this find provides crucial evidence for the rapid diversification of marine reptiles during the late Jurassic period, showing how ancient crocodiles adapted to diverse aquatic niches.