After 150 Years, Mysterious Extinction of Horned Crocodiles Finally Solved!

Scientists have now solved the puzzle concerning the extinct horned crocodile, determining precisely where this enigmatic croc belongs on the tree of life after nearly 150 years of debate.

This was the general consensus until 2007 when researchers compared the skulls of horned crocodiles to those of Nile crocodiles and discovered significant physiological differences. Following this discovery, horned crocodiles were classified as dwarf crocodiles, smaller crocodiles with short, stout skulls that diverged from true crocodiles millions of years ago. The horned crocodiles were also assigned a new genus name, Voay, Malagasy for "crocodile."

The horned crocodiles were not dwarf crocodiles, as the 2007 report had indicated, nor were they real crocodiles, as earlier naturalists had thought. Instead, they are classified as a separate genus.

This new species, which is closely related to true crocodiles, is only found in Africa, which means that this is where crocodiles first originated, according to the leading hypothesis in the field. "Our findings support the theory that today's crocodiles evolved in Africa," Hekkala said.

Getting to the bottom of the evolutionary mystery surrounding horned crocodiles is critical because it allows scientists to better understand how modern-day animals evolved and how they could respond to transition, according to Hekkala.

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