A team of Egyptian palaeontologists has discovered a new species of ancient crocodile in Egypt's Western Desert that lived around 80 million years ago, reshaping scientists' understanding of crocodile evolution. The find, published in The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, describes Wadisuchus kassabi as the earliest known member of the extinct Dyrosauridae family. It highlights adaptations for coastal and marine environments unlike modern river-dwelling relatives.
The fossils were unearthed near the Kharga and Baris oases in Egypt's Western Desert, including two partial skulls and two snout tips representing four individuals at different growth stages, offering rare insight into dyrosaurid development. High-resolution CT scans and 3D surface modelling revealed previously unseen anatomical details.
Lead author Sara Saber, Assistant Lecturer at Assiut University and a member of the Mansoura University Vertebrate Palaeontology Centre, described Wadisuchus kassabi as a 3.5–4-metre-long crocodile-like reptile with a long snout and tall, sharp teeth. “It differed from other dyrosaurids by having four teeth at the front of the snout instead of five, nostrils positioned on top for surface breathing, and a deep notch at the tip where the jaws met,” Saber explained. “These features show a gradual adaptation in the dyrosaurid bite and mark an important step in their evolutionary history.”
The discovery strengthens evidence that Africa was the cradle of dyrosaurid evolution, suggesting the group's diversification began earlier—during the Early Coniacian–Santonian period (87–83 million years ago) rather than the Maastrichtian (72–66 million years ago). The species' name reflects Egypt's landscape and heritage: “Wadi” for the New Valley where it was found, “Suchus” after the ancient crocodile god Sobek, and “kassabi” in honour of Professor Ahmed Kassab of Assiut University, a pioneer of Egyptian palaeontology.
Researchers say the find highlights the Western Desert’s importance as a window into Earth’s ancient past—and a reminder that these fossil-rich landscapes must be preserved amid ongoing urban and agricultural expansion.