Mekosuchinae

  • Australosuchus
  • Baru
  • Kambara
  • Mekosuchus
  • Pallimnarchus
  • Quinkana
  • Trilophosuchus
  • Volia

The Mekosuchinae were a species of the crocodiles on Australia and parts of Oceania, which have died out at the present time. Fossils have been found from the Miocene epoch. They existed sporadically until the Holocene in, and died about the same time as the arrival of humans on the islands of Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

Characteristics and peculiarities

Although disagreement about the classification of Mekosuchinae in the family Crocodile ( Crocodylidae there ), as it is believed in some quarters that it was a completely own family, it is certain that the crocodiles of Mekosuchinae at least had a broad range of publication.

One of the former species, Trilophosuchus rackhami, whose remains were found in Queensland, had a short snout and relatively large eyes; According to theories it chased its prey by climbing trees and at the right moment of them rushing down ( this resulted in the nickname " fall - crocodile ").

Dissemination

A fossil of Mekosuchinae was excavated in the Miocene deposits in New Zealand. The type Mekosuchus populated a number of Pacific islands; it is believed that it was moving in the Coral Sea from island to island, starting from a (now now flooded ) island - the "Great Chesterfield Island " - from then on to New Caledonia, and from there to other islands and archipelagos. Presumptions exist showing that more remains of Mekosuchus on Tonga and Samoa could be found.

Extinction

Mekosuchinae died out in Australia due to the arrival of the genus Crocodylus crocodiles, these can be found for example in the saltwater crocodile. Species such as Mekosuchus inexpectatus and Mekosuchus kalpokasi survived Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to people the islands reached; they are blamed for the extinction of animals ( directly or indirectly).

Although deemed to be sure that the main extinction of animals occurred in the Pliocene, it is assumed that occasionally occurred in some habitats species until about 3000 years.

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