Quinkana
Lived
1,600,000 - 40,000 years ago, Pleistocene.
Description
Unlike today's Australian crocodiles, this large crocodile lived on the land. Quinkana's long legs made it a fast hunter. It tired out its prey of mammals, birds and other reptiles in long chases.
Quinkana belonged to a group of crocodiles (mekosuchines) that are now all extinct.
Fossils
Fossils of Quinkana were found at Bluff Downs in Queensland.
Did you know?
Crocodiles that live in the water have pointed teeth that are good for holding things, but not for cutting. They use their teeth to hold animals until they drown, then shake them into bite-sized pieces. But Quinkana hunted on the land, so it could not drown its prey. Its teeth have sharp blades that it used to kill and cut up animals.
