Paleontologists have unearthed two partial skulls and three partial jaws from an early diverging crocodile dinosaur in the Quseir Formation of Egypt.
This newfound species of crocodile existed in what is now Egypt roughly 80 million years ago during the late Cretaceous period.
Dubbed Wasdiskus Kassabi, it belongs to the Dirosauridae family. This group of crocodilians is known for its diverse skull morphology and broad distribution from the Late Cretaceous to the Paleogene.
“In contrast to modern crocodiles, dirosaurs flourished in coastal and marine habitats, characterized by elongated snouts and thin, needle-like teeth optimal for capturing slippery prey like fish and turtles,” stated paleontologist Sara Saber from Assiut University and her colleagues.
“Their notable survival and dispersal following the extinction of the dinosaurs is vital for understanding how reptiles adapted and diversified during the collapse of global ecosystems.”
Wasdiskus Kassabi was estimated to be 3.5 to 4 meters in length, featuring a lengthy snout and sharp, tall teeth.
“What sets it apart from other dirosaurids is its four teeth at the front of the snout versus the primitive five, nostrils placed at the top of the snout for surface breathing, and a notable notch at the snout’s tip where the jaws converge,” Saber added.
“These characteristics suggest that the dirosaurids’ bite was a gradual adaptation, representing a significant milestone in their evolutionary journey.”
Two partial skulls and three partial jaws of Wasdiskus Kassabi were discovered in the Kharga and Baris oases within Egypt’s Western Desert.
“Apart from its unique features, Wasdiskus Kassabi significantly contributes to our understanding of the origins of the dyrosaurid family,” Dr. Saber remarked.
“This new species extends the timeline for the African origin of dirosaurids and suggests their diversification may have begun earlier than previously thought, potentially during the early Coniacian-Santonian period (approximately 87 to 83 million years ago) rather than the Maastrichtian period (around 72 to 66 million years ago) as had been traditionally assumed.”
“This discovery highlights Africa as the evolutionary cradle of dirosaurids, from which subsequent lineages spread worldwide and have consistently been positioned in our phylogenetic analyses.” Wasdiskus Kassabi “is the ancestor of the dirosaurid lineage,” noted Belal Salem, a researcher affiliated with Mansoura University, Ohio University, and Benha University.
“The significance of Wasdiskus Kassabi lies not only in its revelations about the evolutionary history of this remarkable crocodilian group but also in the reminder that Egypt’s Western Desert still holds treasures that guard the mysteries of Earth’s ancient past.”
The findings are detailed in a study published today in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
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Sarah Saber et al. 2025. Early dirosaurids (Wasdiskus Kassabi) discoveries from the Campanian of Egypt illuminate the origin and biogeography of dirosaurids. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 205 (2): zlaf134; doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf134
Source: www.sci.news
