This species thrived about 100 to 145 million years ago. The research results are published in Scientific Reports,

The Jinju Formation at the beginning of the Cretaceous period in Korea is a rock-rich rock stratum, about 800 square meters wide with 5 meters of stratigraphic section. Many sets of footprints are available at all levels of rock formations, previously they were thought to have been created by giant pterosaurs on two feet.

However, paleontologists at the Chinju National University of Education (Korea) and the University of Queensland, Brisbane (Australia) said that it is likely that the ancestors walked on two feet of the crocodiles. now leave.

The authors write that: It is astonishing that the consistent absence of forefoot traces on the footprints they leave, with well preserved skin surface traces, proves that the creators that trace is a bipedal animal. There is no clear evidence that the hind legs press on to the forefoot, or poorly preserved traces, suggesting that the four-legged animals created a trail of only two feet.

Footprint line in the Sacheon Jahye-ri area.

When discovered, these footprints were named Batrachopus grandis , and measured lengths from 18 to 24 cm - double the width, showing their body lengths were up to 3 m.

Batrachopus grandis footprint is well preserved

The researchers recorded these footprints in normal and holograms, tracked contour traces and measured their parameters.

Photos and holograms

A thorough analysis concluded that these traces belonged to a new species of crocodile - the first reptile group was the ancestor of modern crocodiles, eating fish and adapting to the land more than other species at the time. that point. The footprints of the Batrachopus grandis were the first to signify walking on two feet - an unprecedented evolution of this family.

The findings may mean that traces found in younger geological areas may belong to ancient crocodiles - traces previously thought to have been caused by giant pterosaurs. again when walking on two feet to protect the wings when on the ground.

The discovery of Batrachopus grandis was made shortly after the discovery and description of Korean crocodiles, and significantly increased understanding of morphology, size range, abundance and photo preservation factors. Enjoy the traces of Korean crocodile. In addition, this finding calls for re-examination of other specimens of the same period of similar morphology.

Batrachopus grandis compared to humans.