There are currently 18 living species of crocodiles. Large crocodiles can grow over 17 feet long.Millions of years ago, giant dwarf crocodiles inhabited Africa that loved to eat our human ancestors.These crocodiles formerly inhabited east Africa between 18 million and 15 million years ago before inexplicably becoming extinct. Their findings were recently published in the journal.
Kinyang mabokoensis and Kinyang tchernovi are the names of the new species. They possessed big, conical teeth and short, deep snouts. Instead of opening straight upward like contemporary crocodiles, their noses opened somewhat up and to the front. Instead of being in the water, they waited for prey in the forest for the majority of the time.
Why did they disappear? Brochu believes that less rain fell in the area as a result of climate change. As a result of the decrease in rainfall, forests gradually disappeared and were replaced by grasslands and mixed savanna woodlands. Kinyang was impacted by the shift in the environment because, according to the researchers, it likely favored woodland areas for breeding and hunting.
Brochu acknowledges what caused the Kinyang to die out requires further testing, as the researchers are unable to determine precisely when the animals became extinct. Also, there is a gap in the fossil record between Kinyang and other crocodile lineages that came onto the scene beginning about 7 million years ago. The new arrivals included relatives of the Nile crocodile currently found in Kenya.