Since ancient times, people have feared and been enchanted by crocodiles. With their untold strength, adept stealth, and spiny frames, they seem like something out of another epoch. At the very least, they seem like creatures out of a fantasy novel. Skilled hunters and fearsome predators, crocodiles lurk on the banks of rivers, where they look like unassuming logs until they attack. There’s no doubt about it, crocodiles strike fear into the hearts of men and the minds of animals alike. To make matters more frightening, crocodiles can grow to incredible dimensions. Even when they are on the smaller side, they still make for vicious hunters.
Every year, there are stories from around the world of both massive crocodiles being spotted and ones snatching up humans with ease. In May of this year, a massive female crocodile wandered into a palm oil plantation near Batu Pahat, Malaysia. Once the villagers captured the beast, they managed to measure it. This curious crocodile turned out to be around 15 feet long and weighed more than 900 pounds. That’s as heavy as a grand piano. Not all encounters end as fortunately for the humans involved, either. Recently, a 15-year-old girl drowned after being dragged into a river by a crocodile.
Crocodiles are fearsome and hard to spot before it’s too late, and you are dragged under. It’s shocking to think that the modern crocodile is practically miniature compared to more ancient variations of the reptile. Indeed, some ancient crocodiles like the Sarcosuchus imperator could grow up to 40 feet long and weigh approximately 17,600 pounds. That is easily the size of a modern, full-length school bus. Let’s learn more about this recent crocodile attack. Then we will delve into the different types of ancient crocodiles that make even the most intimidating modern specimen seem tiny.