A new species of "apex predator" dinosaur has been uncovered after palaeontologists recovered a fossil which showed the bones of a crocodile lodged in its jaws.
Researchers have said the discovery in Argentina revealed the existence of a 70-million-year-old species of top predator which weighed more than a tonne - and was seven metres long.
The species has been described as belonging to the "megaraptor" family of dinosaurs and has been dubbed Joaquinraptor casali.
According to scientists, the predator's powerful arms and claws helped it dominate South America, Australia and Asia.
The predator's powerful arms and claws helped it dominate South America, Australia and Asia
|CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
However, researchers say their knowledge of the species up until now has been minimal due to the lack of fossils of the ancient beasts being found.
In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers explained: “Many important aspects of megaraptoran morphology and evolution remain poorly understood, due in large part to the fragmentary nature of most fossils of these theropods."
The discovery was made in an area of Patagonia known as the Lago Colhue Huapi fossil site, where researchers successfully pulled out the fossil predator's skull, vertebrae and ribs from the earth.
Scientists said the remains uncovered had been particularly well-preserved.
The discovery was made in an area of Patagonia known as the Lago Colhue Huapi fossil site
|WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The researchers noted in the new study: “Here we report a previously unknown megaraptoran genus and species represented by a partially articulated partial skeleton recovered from an uppermost Cretaceous stratum of the Lago Colhue Huapi Formation of south-central Chubut Province in central Patagonia, Argentina,”
The specimen is believed to have roamed the earth during the late Cretaceous period, making it one of the most recent megaraptorans to have lived.
Researchers have described the dinosaur from which the remains belonged to as an adolescent, likely around 19 years old when it died.
However, scientists were left stunned after finding the fossilised leg bone of a crocodile stuck in the lower jaw of the juvenile beast.
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Scientists were left stunned after finding the fossilised leg bone of a crocodile stuck in the lower jaw of the juvenile beast
|GETTY
The researchers say it provides evidence that Joaquinraptor casali was the top predator in the humid floodplain environment it inhabited.
Dinosaurs belonging to the megaraptor family are believed to have dominated South America before dying out towards the conclusion of the Cretaceous era.
Just months ago, a team of researchers in Australia stumbled upon the world's oldest megaraptor, believed to be 120 million years old.
The scientists who found the ancient beast say it is the first example of carcharodontosaurus ever found on the continent.
The carcharodontosaurs is believed to have boasted blade-like teeth and stood at 12 metres tall.
The discovery added further proof of an extensive overlap in the species of dinosaurs that roamed both South America and Australia in the Cretaceous era.
Scientists have said the similarities can be explained by the existence of a supercontinent during the era, known as Gondwana, which linked Australia to both South America and Antarctica.
Experts from Museums Victory unearthed over 250 dinosaur bones in total in the study.
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