Meet Crocodylus lucivenator, a 12- to 15-foot predator that hunted iconic Lucy's species - Phys.org

Researchers report Crocodylus lucivenator, a large crocodile roughly 12–15 feet long, that likely preyed on early hominins including Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy’s species). Fossil evidence indicates these crocodiles were significant predators in the environments where small-bodied, upright hominins lived. This finding complements a new discovery of a 210-million-year-old Triassic crocodile relative with a crushing skull from New Mexico, showing that crocodylian relatives have occupied a wide range of sizes and feeding roles across geologic time.