Croc Fossil Discovered in Cave | National Geographic

the Dominican Republic can boast some

the Dominican Republic can boast some very interesting finds in some of its

very interesting finds in some of its

very interesting finds in some of its freshwater caves that have been mostly

freshwater caves that have been mostly

freshwater caves that have been mostly unexplored until now research divers

unexplored until now research divers

unexplored until now research divers recently uncovered an unexpectedly large

recently uncovered an unexpectedly large

recently uncovered an unexpectedly large variety of fossil remains of extinct

variety of fossil remains of extinct

variety of fossil remains of extinct species of animals in the underground

species of animals in the underground

species of animals in the underground Springs including crocodiles the

Springs including crocodiles the

Springs including crocodiles the discoveries may turn a new page in

discoveries may turn a new page in

discoveries may turn a new page in paleontology at least in the Caribbean

paleontology at least in the Caribbean

paleontology at least in the Caribbean one of the wonderful things that we’ve

one of the wonderful things that we’ve

one of the wonderful things that we’ve learned here in the past couple of years

learned here in the past couple of years

learned here in the past couple of years is that we can really do

is that we can really do

is that we can really do very solid collecting of paleontological

very solid collecting of paleontological

very solid collecting of paleontological remains in underwater caverns this is

remains in underwater caverns this is

remains in underwater caverns this is something entirely new it really hasn’t

something entirely new it really hasn’t

something entirely new it really hasn’t been done before systematically and I

been done before systematically and I

been done before systematically and I think it might be a brand new way

think it might be a brand new way

think it might be a brand new way certainly for Hispaniola for the island

certainly for Hispaniola for the island

certainly for Hispaniola for the island of Hispaniola

of Hispaniola

of Hispaniola this is the way to do it one of the

this is the way to do it one of the

this is the way to do it one of the crocodile skeletons is nearly complete

crocodile skeletons is nearly complete

crocodile skeletons is nearly complete buried in silt except for the end of its

buried in silt except for the end of its

buried in silt except for the end of its snout

snout

snout the researchers are excited about this

the researchers are excited about this

the researchers are excited about this find because crocodiles have never been

find because crocodiles have never been

find because crocodiles have never been reported on this part of the island the

reported on this part of the island the

reported on this part of the island the croc findings were so unexpected and

croc findings were so unexpected and

croc findings were so unexpected and recent the scientists are still in the

recent the scientists are still in the

recent the scientists are still in the midst of research to determine age and

midst of research to determine age and

midst of research to determine age and species lead scientist and

species lead scientist and

species lead scientist and anthropologist Alfred rosenberger and

anthropologist Alfred rosenberger and

anthropologist Alfred rosenberger and his team set out to search for monkey

his team set out to search for monkey

his team set out to search for monkey remains in the Dominican Republic caves

remains in the Dominican Republic caves

remains in the Dominican Republic caves they found many and many more remains of

they found many and many more remains of

they found many and many more remains of different animals including bats sloths

different animals including bats sloths

different animals including bats sloths birds snakes lizards and fish one of the

birds snakes lizards and fish one of the

birds snakes lizards and fish one of the cave sites discovered by locals has a

cave sites discovered by locals has a

cave sites discovered by locals has a narrow vertical entrance under a fig

narrow vertical entrance under a fig

narrow vertical entrance under a fig tree in the country’s eastern province

tree in the country’s eastern province

tree in the country’s eastern province of La alta gracia after about a 26-foot

of La alta gracia after about a 26-foot

of La alta gracia after about a 26-foot descent there is a large cave room and

descent there is a large cave room and

descent there is a large cave room and in the surrounding water of this cave

in the surrounding water of this cave

in the surrounding water of this cave extending at least 2,800 feet the

extending at least 2,800 feet the

extending at least 2,800 feet the crocodile fossils were found in

crocodile fossils were found in

crocodile fossils were found in excellent condition one of the beautiful

excellent condition one of the beautiful

excellent condition one of the beautiful things about finding this material in

things about finding this material in

things about finding this material in underground caves is that the the

underground caves is that the the

underground caves is that the the preservation is extraordinary it is very

preservation is extraordinary it is very

preservation is extraordinary it is very rare when doing normal dirt paleontology

rare when doing normal dirt paleontology

rare when doing normal dirt paleontology so to speak to be able to find complete

so to speak to be able to find complete

so to speak to be able to find complete bones that are unbroken

other caves have more inviting entrances

other caves have more inviting entrances but because of their remoteness and the

but because of their remoteness and the

but because of their remoteness and the fact they’re filled with water they had

fact they’re filled with water they had

fact they’re filled with water they had remained largely unexplored until now

remained largely unexplored until now

remained largely unexplored until now and the animal remains have been well

and the animal remains have been well

and the animal remains have been well preserved in the cold water for

preserved in the cold water for

preserved in the cold water for millennia funding for the expedition of

millennia funding for the expedition of

millennia funding for the expedition of rosenberger the Museo del hombre

rosenberger the Museo del hombre

rosenberger the Museo del hombre dominicano

dominicano

dominicano and collaborators from the dominican

and collaborators from the dominican

and collaborators from the dominican republic Speleological Society was

republic Speleological Society was

republic Speleological Society was provided by a National Geographic Waite

provided by a National Geographic Waite

provided by a National Geographic Waite Foundation grant with previous support

Foundation grant with previous support

Foundation grant with previous support from the Leakey Foundation

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