Overview

• Researchers led by Fernando E. Novas report the new species in PLOS ONE, identifying it as a peirosaurid crocodyliform related to modern crocodiles and alligators.
• The largely intact specimen from southern Patagonia includes a well-preserved skull, jaws, and multiple body bones, making it one of the most complete peirosaurids known.
• Size estimates indicate a length of about 3–3.5 meters and a mass near 250 kilograms, with wide jaws and large teeth consistent with hypercarnivory.
• The team infers a near-apex role in a Maastrichtian freshwater floodplain ecosystem, with prey likely including medium-sized dinosaurs.
• The find is the first crocodyliform from the Chorrillo Formation and the second-largest predator documented there, expanding understanding of regional diversity near the end of the Cretaceous.