Australia’s Oldest Crocodile Eggshells Found in Queensland Reveal Secrets of Tree-Hunting ‘Drop Crocs’

In a quiet backyard in Murgon, Queensland, scientists have made a fascinating discovery — the oldest known crocodile eggshells in Australia, dating back about 55 million years. This find gives scientists new insights into the behaviour of prehistoric crocodiles that once dominated Australia’s forests.

Australia’s Oldest Crocodile Eggshells Found in Queensland Reveal Secrets of Tree-Hunting ‘Drop Crocs’

Discovery Details

A research team from the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (Barcelona) found these ancient fossils in Murgon, around three and a half hours from Brisbane. The fossils were identified as belonging to mekosuchine crocodiles, a species that lived millions of years ago. The study was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The Tree-Hunting Crocodiles

What makes these crocodiles truly unusual is their hunting style. According to Professor Michael Archer (University of New South Wales), the mekosuchine crocodiles could grow up to five metres long and may have hunted from trees.
He explained, “It’s a bizarre idea, but some of them seemed to have lived on land and hunted in forests.” Archer compared them to leopards, saying they might have dropped from trees onto unsuspecting prey — earning them the nickname ‘drop crocs’.

What the Eggshells Reveal

Lead author Xavier Panadès i Blas said the eggshells preserve microstructural and geochemical signals that help identify the species, nesting sites, and breeding behaviour. These findings reveal how ancient crocodiles adapted to their environment and reproduced during the prehistoric period.

Extinction of Mekosuchine Crocodiles

The mekosuchine crocodiles are believed to have disappeared around 3,000 years ago. According to researcher Michael Stein, their extinction was likely due to drying habitats, competition from other predators, and a decline in prey availability. This gradual environmental change led to their eventual disappearance from Australia.

The Discovery Site

Interestingly, the fossils were found in a local rancher’s backyard in Murgon. Professor Archer and his colleague Henk Godhelp started digging there in 1983. “We knocked on the door and asked if we could dig,” Archer recalled. “The owners smiled and said yes after hearing what we were looking for.”

Importance of the Discovery

The discovery provides a rare glimpse into ancient Australian ecosystems, showing how diverse and adaptable prehistoric reptiles were. According to Archer, many other fascinating fossils have been found in this region — and with more excavations, more surprises are expected.

Expert Opinions

Palaeontologist Dean Lomax, author of The Secret Lives of Dinosaurs, praised the discovery but also noted the challenge of identifying species from eggshells. “It’s very difficult to be certain about which species laid them,” he said, but agreed that the research adds important insights into prehistoric life.

Exam-Oriented Notes

• Scientists discovered Australia’s oldest known crocodile eggshells in Murgon, Queensland.
• The fossils belong to mekosuchine crocodiles, which lived around 55 million years ago.
• These crocodiles were capable of tree-hunting, earning the nickname “drop crocs.”
• The research was conducted by the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont and published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
• The species likely went extinct around 3,000 years ago due to environmental changes and lack of prey.

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Question & Answer

Q1. Where were Australia’s oldest crocodile eggshells discovered?
(a) Perth, Western Australia
(b) Darwin, Northern Territory
(c) Murgon, Queensland
(d) Adelaide, South Australia
Answer: Murgon, Queensland

Q2. The discovered eggshells belong to which ancient crocodile species?
(a) Sarcosuchus imperator
(b) Mekosuchine crocodiles
(c) Deinosuchus
(d) Crocodylus porosus
Answer: Mekosuchine crocodiles

Q3. How old are the discovered crocodile eggshells?
(a) 10 million years
(b) 25 million years
(c) 55 million years
(d) 100 million years
Answer: 55 million years

Q4. What unusual hunting behaviour did the mekosuchine crocodiles display?
(a) They hunted in the sea
(b) They hunted from trees
(c) They lived underground
(d) They hunted only at night
Answer: They hunted from trees

Q5. In which scientific journal was this discovery published?
(a) Nature Ecology & Evolution
(b) Science Advances
(c) Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
(d) PLOS ONE
Answer: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

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