The new paper published by experts sheds light on the one adaptation that played the most important role in these reptiles becoming a dinosaur-eating demon.
The ‘terror crocodile’ adaptation
The scientists say that the bus-sized ancient reptiles with banana-sized teeth had a wide and long skull with a bulbous lump.
The bulbous lump cannot be compared to anything that is seen in other crocodilians.
The new paper proposes that the success of Deinosuchus in the era was largely owing to its adaptation to saltwater conditions. This feature is lacking in alligators today.
The paper says that the ‘terror crocodile’ retained the salt glands found in the crocodilians, which existed in prehistoric times. These glands enabled them to tolerate salt water, much like the modern-day crocodiles.