This "tank" from the Triassic turns out to be a relative of crocodiles

Researchers in Texas have discovered a new species of crocodile cousin dating back 215 million years.

In the rocky formations of northwest Texas, scientists have unearthed an aetosaur, a distant relative of crocodiles. This prehistoric creature, measuring about 16 feet in length and possessing sturdy limbs, was covered in bony plates for protection. Nicknamed the "tanks of the Triassic," these beings lived between 237 and 201 million years ago, covering almost all continents except for Australia and Antarctica. Unlike modern crocodiles, aetosaurs were primarily omnivorous.


The discovery was made possible through excavations in the Cooper Canyon formation, where a large portion of the animal's dorsal armor was unearthed. "We have elements ranging from the back of the neck and shoulder area all the way to the tip of the tail," explains William Reyes, a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin, highlighting the unusual extent of this find.

The fossil, discovered by paleontologist Bill Mueller and amateur collector Emmett Shedd in 1989, was not identified as belonging to a new species until preliminary research in the early 2000s. Named Garzapelta muelleri, this species exhibits a unique combination of bony plates, clearly distinguishing the fossil among other known aetosaurs.

The precise classification of Garzapelta muelleri in the aetosaur family tree was complex due to its unique features. It shares traits with two major groups of aetosaurs, but researchers concluded it had more similarities with the Aetosaurinae, despite some remarkable convergent evolution of its bony plates.


This discovery enriches our understanding of the diversity of life forms during the Triassic and highlights the significance of protection for these prehistoric animals, demonstrating the complex evolution of species and their adaptations to their environment.