foot-long (6 meter) crocodile with three sets of fangs - like wild boar tusks - roamed parts of northern Africa millions of years ago, researchers reported Thursday. While this fearsome creature hunted meat, not far away another newly found type of croc with a wide, flat snout like a pancake was fishing for food. And a smaller, 3-foot-long (1 meter) relative with buckteeth was chomping plants and grubs in the same region. The three new species, along with new examples of two previously known ancient crocodiles, were detailed Thursday by researchers Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago and Hans Larsson of McGill University in Montreal. They spoke at a news conference organized by the National Geographic Society, which sponsored the research. The researchers suggest that these crocs could gallop across the landscape chasing prey and yet dive into water and swim. The newly discovered species are: - Kaprosuchus saharicus, nicknamed “BoarCroc,” found in Niger. BoarCroc was a 20-foot-long (6 meter) meat-eater with an armored snout for ramming and three sets of dagger-shaped fangs for slicing. The tusks stuck out above and below the jaw like a modern warthog. - Laganosuchus thaumastos, or “PancakeCroc,” found in Niger and Morocco. Also 20 feet (6 meters) long, it was a squat fish-eater with a 3-foot (1 meter) pancake-flat head and spike-shaped teeth on slender jaws. Sereno said it probably remained motionless for hours, its jaws open and waiting for prey. - Araripesuchus wegeneri, or “DogCroc,” found in Niger, a 3-foot-long (1 meter) mew plant- and grub-eater with a soft, doglike nose pointing forward.
