The fossil of the gavial crocodile, about 3 meters long, was discovered in late 2023 in perfect condition in Peru's Ocucaye Desert, about 350 km south of the capital Lima.
"This is the first time we have found a juvenile specimen of this species, meaning it has not yet reached its maximum size. It died before that," vertebrate paleontologist Mario Gamara told a news conference.
The skull and jaws of these specimens differ from those of today's crocodiles and alligators, according to Gamara, who led the reconstruction of the fossil.
"They had an elongated snout and their diet was entirely piscivorous, feeding on fish," Gamara said.
"The closest current relative of this crocodile is the Indian gharial," he added.
The discovery was made jointly by the Peruvian Institute of Geology, Mining and Metallurgy and the School of La Union.
Peru's Ocucaye Desert is rich in fossils, such as four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period - 5 to 23 million years ago - that were discovered there earlier. | BGNES