Lucy’s Predator: New Giant Crocodile Species Discovered

More than 3 million years ago, as early human ancestors – including the species represented by the famous fossil “Lucy” – roamed East Africa, they coexisted with a formidable predator. This predator was a giant crocodile boasting a distinctive bump on its skull, lurking in rivers and lakes, waiting for prey to arrive to drink.

Now, scientists have revealed that this crocodile represents a previously undescribed new species. The discovery offers a glimpse into the dangerous world faced by our early hominin relatives.

In research led by the University of Iowa and published on March 12 in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, researchers have named the species Crocodylus lucivenator, meaning “Lucy’s hunter.”

The name is fitting, as this ancient crocodile lived approximately 3.4 to 3 million years ago, during the same period as Australopithecus afarensis, the species of early human ancestor represented by the Lucy fossil. The find underscores the complex paleoecological conditions that shaped early human evolution.

Lucy herself was discovered in 1974 in Ethiopia and remains one of the most important discoveries in the history of paleoanthropology. Her skeleton is among the oldest and most complete hominin fossils ever found.

The Lucy discovery also helped prove that, in human evolution, the ability to walk on two legs (bipedalism) emerged before the human brain grew larger.

However, life wasn’t uncomplicated for these early hominins. They lived in a wild environment filled with predators—and one of the most dangerous may have been Crocodylus lucivenator.

Largest Predator in Lucy’s Ecosystem

This ancient crocodile was no slight animal. Researchers estimate it reached a length of 3.6 to 4.5 meters (12–15 feet) with a weight between 270 and nearly 600 kilograms. This size made it an apex predator in its environment.

The ecosystem inhabited by this crocodile consisted of bushland and wetlands with rivers surrounded by trees. In such a habitat, the crocodile would have hunted using ambush tactics—hiding in the water and attacking when prey came to drink.

Professor Christopher Brochu, the lead author of the study from the University of Iowa, stated that the threat posed by this crocodile to human ancestors was likely incredibly real.

“This crocodile was the largest predator in that ecosystem, even more dominant than lions and hyenas. It was also likely the greatest threat to our ancestors living there at the time,” said Brochu.

He even added a rather chilling possibility.

“It’s almost certain this crocodile preyed on Lucy’s species. Whether a particular crocodile ever tried to catch Lucy herself, we’ll never know. But if that crocodile saw a Lucy-type, it almost certainly would have thought: dinner.”