Ancestor of crocodiles a clue to evolution

A newly-identified species from 150 million years ago that was an ancestor to crocodiles has given experts an insight into how some animals evolved.

The Cricosaurus bambergensis fossil, discovered in a quarry near Bamberg, in Bavaria, Germany, in 2014, was found to be a previously unknown species when compared to other museum collections.

Digital images allowed further research to be carried out, showing it developed a tail fin and paddlelike limbs for life in the sea – bearing more resemblance to dolphins than crocodiles. They lived during the Jurassic era in shallow seas and lagoons.

Dr Mark Young, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Geosciences, took part. He said: “The rock formations of southern Germany continue to give us fresh insights into the age of dinosaurs.”