The Aporia · Scientists find 170-million-year-old crocodile relative with needle-thin teeth

Researchers in Morocco discovered fossils of a new crocodile relative dating back 170 million years, characterized by needle-thin teeth embedded in long bones. Named Ctenosuchus tenuidens, this species had an elongated snout and specialized teeth suitable for feeding on small aquatic prey like tiny fish and crustaceans. The find, detailed by scientists from the University of Portsmouth and Hassan II University, reveals a previously unknown diversity among ancient crocodile relatives during the Jurassic Period.

Written by AI on 2026-10-13, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Scientists discovered the remains of Ctenosuchus tenuidens, a new species closely related to crocodiles, in Morocco. Found in rocks dating back about 170 million years, these fossils reveal an array of needle-thin teeth unlike those of known thalattosuchian relatives. This group includes ancient reptiles that lived during the Jurassic Period in marine and freshwater environments within Gondwana, the ancient southern supercontinent.

The unusual discovery was made by researchers from the University of Portsmouth in the UK and Hassan II University of Casablanca in Morocco, who detailed their findings in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The delicate teeth suggest that Ctenosuchus tenuidens may have fed on smaller prey to avoid damaging its fine dentition.

This find adds significant insights into the diverse predator ecosystems of prehistoric times and highlights the importance of continued fossil research for understanding ancient life forms.

Written for “Ancient Crocodile Relative Discovery” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, the research adds to scientists' understanding of the ecosystems that existed in Gondwana, the ancient southern supercontinent that included much of modern-day Africa.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-13

🔮 The delicate teeth would probably have been poorly suited to gripping struggling, larger prey, which could have damaged them.

2026-10-13 · Times of India

Scientists find 170-million-year-old crocodile relative with needle-thin teeth · assertive framing

Sometimes a major scientific discovery starts with something barely visible. asserted

discovery → start → something

Researchers studying Moroccan fossils found tiny black circles along a long bone. asserted

Researchers → study → bone

Under a microscope, these markings revealed an unexpected secret: an array of exceptionally slender teeth belonging to a previously unknown crocodile relative that lived around 170 million years ago. asserted

that → reveal → relative

The discovery offers a glimpse into the surprising diversity of prehistoric predators during the Jurassic Period, states a release by the University of Portsmouth. asserted

release → offer → Portsmouth

A closer look reveals a new species The species, named Ctenosuchus tenuidens, was identified by researchers from the University of Portsmouth in the UK and Hassan II University of Casablanca in Morocco. asserted

species → reveal → Morocco

It belonged to the thalattosuchians, a group of ancient reptiles related to crocodiles that occupied marine and freshwater environments during the age of the dinosaurs. asserted

that → belong → dinosaurs

Unlike modern crocodiles, which typically have robust teeth suited to gripping prey, this animal had a long, narrow snout lined with needle-like teeth so fine that they stood out from those of its known relatives. asserted

they → have → relatives

The fossils were recovered from rocks formed in ancient rivers and lakes in what is now the Atlas Mountains of southeastern Morocco. asserted

what → recover → Morocco

The discovery began when researchers examined the unusual dark markings on one of the specimens more closely. asserted

researchers → begin → specimens

Carefully scraping the surrounding material exposed elongated structures that turned out to be teeth. asserted

that → scrap → structures

Special anatomy is reflected in the name. asserted

anatomy → reflect → name

Cteno refers to a comb, suchus means crocodile, and tenuidens translates to thin teeth, a fitting description of the animal's closely spaced dental arrangement. asserted

tenuidens → refer → arrangement

Using powerful microscopes, researchers examined the teeth's internal features and identified specialised ridges and a tightly packed arrangement. asserted

researchers → use → ridges

These characteristics suggest that the animal was adapted to feeding on small, relatively soft aquatic prey rather than pursuing larger fish. asserted

animal → suggest → fish

Its likely diet included tiny fish, crustaceans such as fairy shrimp, worms and other small water-dwelling creatures. asserted

diet → include → shrimp

The delicate teeth would probably have been poorly suited to gripping struggling, larger prey, which could have damaged them. uncertain

which → grip → them

Instead, the animal appears to have occupied a specialised feeding niche, setting it apart from other long-snouted crocodile relatives. asserted

animal → appear → relatives

Evolution repeats its experiments asserted

Evolution → repeat → experiments

The discovery also highlights a recurring pattern in evolution: unrelated groups of animals can develop similar features when adapting to comparable food sources. asserted

groups → highlight → sources

The teeth and jaws of Ctenosuchus tenuidens resemble those of certain ancient aquatic reptiles called mesosaurs, as well as some long-snouted pterosaurs, including Gnathosaurus and Ctenochasma. asserted

teeth → resemble → Gnathosaurus

These flying reptiles lived during the Jurassic and are believed to have used specialised jaws for filter feeding. asserted

reptiles → fly → feeding

Such similarities suggest that different prehistoric animals independently evolved comparable feeding adaptations, demonstrating how a shared ecological challenge can produce similar anatomical solutions. asserted

challenge → suggest → solutions

that → publish → Africa

It also challenges the familiar image of crocodile relatives as predators built primarily to capture large prey. asserted

It → challenge → prey

During the Jurassic, these animals occupied a broader range of habitats and ecological roles than their modern descendants might suggest The fossils from Morocco reveal how much remains to be learned from rocks that have preserved traces of life for millions of years. uncertain

that → occupy → years

Scientists find 170-million-year-old crocodile relative with needle-thin teeth

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