Trending Now - Ancient Crocodile Bones Discovered in England

WHO:

Scientists from the Natural History Museum London and UCL, led by PhD student Ewan Bodenham.

David Rhys Jones, a physics teacher at Ysgol Uwchradd Aberteifi in Cardigan, Wales, honored in the species name.

WHAT:

Discovery of a new species of prehistoric crocodile named Galahadosuchus jonesi.

The species is identified as a 215-million-year-old crocodile relative with a build similar to a racing dog.

The fossil specimen, catalogued as NHMUK PV R 10002, was previously misidentified as Terrestrisuchus gracilis.

The research identified 13 distinct morphological differences between Galahadosuchus jonesi and Terrestrisuchus.

The metatarsal-to-femur length ratio of Galahadosuchus was calculated at 0.40, compared to 0.35 for Terrestrisuchus.

WHERE:

The fossil was discovered in a quarry in Gloucestershire, England, specifically Cromhall Quarry.

The fossil was catalogued at the Natural History Museum in London.

WHEN:

The fossil was originally recovered in 1969.

The research findings were published in The Anatomical Record.

WHY:

The discovery expands understanding of the diversity of life before the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction.

Understanding the anatomy of Galahadosuchus jonesi provides insights into how life reorganizes in response to planetary crises.

HOW:

The specimen was analyzed through detailed anatomical comparisons as part of Bodenham's PhD research.

The fossil was preserved in fissure-fill deposits that created natural time capsules of ancient ecosystems.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 23:23 UTC)

Scientists from the Natural History Museum London and UCL, led by PhD student Ewan Bodenham, have discovered a new species of prehistoric crocodile named Galahadosuchus jonesi, which is a 215-million-year-old relative of modern crocodiles with a build similar to a racing dog. The fossil, originally recovered in 1969 from Cromhall Quarry in Gloucestershire, England, was previously misidentified and has now been catalogued at the Natural History Museum in London, revealing 13 distinct differences from its former classification. This discovery not only enhances our understanding of life before the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction but also sheds light on how life reorganizes in response to planetary crises.