Crocodiles Survived 129,000 Years in Australasia

Why this is here: Dwarf crocodiles on islands like New Caledonia grew to less than two meters long, making them more vulnerable to human hunters than their larger mainland relatives.

Paleontologists in Australia reviewed evidence revealing 129,000 years of crocodile history across Australasia. The research details a lost group of crocodiles called mekosuchines, apex predators for over 50 million years. These ancient reptiles varied greatly, with some species growing to immense sizes and others becoming small, land-dwelling “dwarf” species on islands like New Caledonia.

Researchers assembled a record from fragmented remains found at over 20 sites in Australia, New Guinea, and the southwest Pacific. Ancient rock art from around 20,000 years ago shows Indigenous Australians depicted crocodiles, suggesting a long coexistence. While people occasionally hunted and used crocodile teeth, evidence suggests they generally avoided encounters with the dangerous animals.

Mekosuchines disappeared from mainland Australia over 40,000 years ago, though the cause remains unknown. Island species persisted until recently, possibly falling victim to human hunting and introduced species like rats. Further investigation involving multiple scientific fields and Indigenous knowledge is needed to protect remaining crocodile populations.