A new study reveals Deinosuchus, a massive extinct reptile, was not a close relative of alligators, as previously thought. Possessing salt tolerance unlike modern alligators, Deinosuchus thrived in the Western Interior Seaway of North America during the Cretaceous period. This saltwater tolerance, a trait retained from ancestral crocodilians, allowed it to dominate coastal ecosystems and prey on dinosaurs. The research, published in Communications Biology, uses fossil analysis and DNA from living crocodilians to reconstruct the crocodilian family tree, highlighting Deinosuchus' unique adaptations and its role as a top predator.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.