️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️  ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ Carnufex carolinensis, which means 'Carolina Butcher' due to its ferocious appearance, was an early ancestor of modern crocodiles.<unk> Carnufex carolinensis, which means 'Carolina Butcher' due to its ferocious appearance, was an early ancestor of modern crocodiles. Paleontologists believe it roamed the warm, wet rainforests of what is now North Carolina around 231 million years ago, preying on small armored reptiles and early mammals with its powerful jaws.<unk> Paleontologists believe it roamed the warm, wet rainforests of what is now North Carolina around 231 million years ago, preying on small armored reptiles and early mammals with its powerful jaws. Carnufex carolinensis, shown in the artist's impression above, would have chased down prey on its hind legs and probably crunched its way though small armored reptiles and early mammals with its long powerful jaws.<unk> Carnufex carolinensis, shown in the artist's impression above, would have chased down prey on its hind legs and probably crunched its way though small armored reptiles and early mammals with its long powerful jaws.<unk> Carnufex carolinensis, shown in the artist's impression above, would have chased down prey on its hind legs and probably crunched its way though small armored reptiles and early mammals with its long powerful jaws. Researchers discovered fossilized parts of the ferocious crocodilian's skull, spine and forelimbs in a rock formation in Chatham County, near Sanford, North Carolina.<unk> Researchers discovered fossilized parts of the ferocious crocodilian's skull, spine and forelimbs in a rock formation in Chatham County, near Sanford, North Carolina. Dr Lindsay Zanno, assistant research professor at North Carolina State University and director of the palaeontology laboratory at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, said the fossil could help provide new clues about the evolution of crocodiles. Dr Lindsay Zanno, assistant research professor at North Carolina State University and director of the palaeontology laboratory at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, said the fossil could help provide new clues about the evolution of crocodiles. Carnufex carolinensis. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ Age: The reptile lived 231 million years ago. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk> Importance: The fossil will help scientists unravel the evolution of early crocodiles.<unk> Importance: The fossil will help scientists unravel the evolution of early crocodiles. Running on its hind legs, Carnufex would have been the top predator in the area during the Triassic period.<unk> Running on its hind legs, Carnufex would have been the top predator in the area during the Triassic period. She said: 'Fossils from this time period are extremely important to scientists because they record the earliest appearance of crocodylomorphs and theropod dinosaurs, two groups that first evolved in the Triassic period, yet managed to survive to the present day in the form of...
<unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> Fragments of fossil skull, spine and forelimb were found in North Carolina.<unk> Fragments of fossil skull, spine and forelimb were found in North Carolina.<unk> Scientists used 3D scanning to reconstruct the prehistoric predator's skull. <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk>