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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ancient crocodiles may have walked on two feet

Credit: Reuters - 3D Animations (Next Me
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Ancient crocodiles may have walked on two feet
Ancient crocodiles may have walked on two feet

Experts have found evidence which indicates that ancient crocodiles may have been bipedal.

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Experts from South Korea's Chinju National University of Education discovered many fossilized animal tracks in 2019 that they now believe could belong to an ancient crocodile that walked on two feet.

Their research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The team found the fossilized footprints at a site located west of Sacheon City in South Korea's South Gyeongsang Province.

The team has named the animal Batrachopus grandis.

The footprints measure up to 24 centimeters in length and the heel print, digits and impressions of the pads look very similar to those of crocodile track marks, the BBC reports, citing Professor Martin Lockley from the University of Colorado at Denver, a co-author of the study.

The Batrachopus grandis legs were about the same height as a human adults' legs.

The fact that there are no tracks of the ancient crocodiles' tails dragging behind them and the closeness of the footprints suggests this animal could have been bipedal.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

Visualization of crocodile becoming Batrachopus grandis 2.

Location of fossilized footprints 3.

Size of fossilized footprints 4.

Height comparison between Batrachopus grandis and a human VOICEOVER (in English): "Experts from South Korea's Chinju National University of Education discovered many fossilized animal tracks in 2019 that they now believe could belong to an ancient crocodile that walked on two feet.

Their research was published in the journal Scientific Reports." "The team found the fossilized footprints at a site located west of Sacheon City in South Korea's South Gyeongsang Province.

The team has named the animal Batrachopus grandis." "The footprints measure up to 24 centimeters in length and the heel print, digits and impressions of the pads look very similar to those of crocodile track marks, the BBC reports, citing Professor Martin Lockley from the University of Colorado at Denver, a co-author of the study." "The Batrachopus grandis legs were about the same height as a human adults' legs.

The fact that there are no tracks of the ancient crocodiles' tails dragging behind them and the closeness of the footprints suggests this animal could have been bipedal." SOURCES: Nature Scientific Reports https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-66008-7 *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377

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