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1. Description of the subfossil crocodylians from a new Late Pleistocene subfossil site (Tsaramody, Sambaina Basin) in central Madagascar

   Rakotozandry, R.; Ranivoharimanana, L.; Ranaivosoa, V.; Rasolofomanana, N.; Hekkala, E.; Samonds, K.E. (December 2021, Malagasy nature)

   Madagascar is famous today not only for its unique biodiversity, but also for the high levels of endemism of plants and animals. Less appreciated is the fact that, in the recent past, the island had even greater biodiversity with many other endemic animals such as giant lemurs, elephant birds, pygmy hippopotami, tortoises, and crocodiles that have gone extinct within the past 2000 years. The extinction of many of these groups is thought to be the result of both human activities and environmental change. Most research has focused on the lemurs, hippopotami, and elephant birds. Other recently extinct animals, including the Malagasy horned crocodile (Voay robustus), are relatively poorly known. Madagascar’s subfossil crocodylians include two taxa: the extinct V. robustus (the Malagasy horned crocodile) and the extant Crocodylus niloticus. The latter arrived on Madagascar relatively recently and we know little about the habitat preferences, distributions and ecological interactions (if any) of either species during the Holocene. In order to better understand the recent history of crocodylian extinction in Madagascar, we must first identify which species were present and where they were found. We present here a description of subfossil crocodylian material collected from the newly discovered subfossil site of Tsaramody (Sambaina Basin), a high-elevation wetlandenvironment. At 1655 m, it represents the highest elevation subfossil site on the island. Here we describe both cranial (e.g., premaxillary, jugal, and squamosal “horns”) and postcranial elements (e.g., osteoderms). Our research indicates that crocodile material from Tsaramody appears morphologically to belong to V. robustus, the extinct species. However, oval tuberosities on the frontal bone and a triangular extension of the squamosal bone suggest previously unrecognized variation. 

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2. Subfossil lemur discoveries from the Beanka Protected Area in western Madagascar

   https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2019.54  

   Burney, David A.; Andriamialison, Haingoson; Andrianaivoarivelo, Radosoa A.; Bourne, Steven; Crowley, Brooke E.; de Boer, Erik J.; Godfrey, Laurie R.; Goodman, Steven M.; Griffiths, Christine; Griffiths, Owen; et al (January 2020, Quaternary Research)

   A new fossil site in a previously unexplored part of western Madagascar (the Beanka Protected Area) has yielded remains of many recently extinct vertebrates, including giant lemurs (Babakotia radofilai, Palaeopropithecus kelyus, Pachylemur sp., and Archaeolemur edwardsi), carnivores (Cryptoprocta spelea), the aardvark-like Plesiorycteropus sp., and giant ground cuckoos (Coua). Many of these represent considerable range extensions. Extant species that were extirpated from the region (e.g., Prolemur simus) are also present. Calibrated radiocarbon ages for 10 bones from extinct primates span the last three millennia. The largely undisturbed taphonomy of bone deposits supports the interpretation that many specimens fell in from a rock ledge above the entrance. Some primates and other mammals may have been prey items of avian predators, but human predation is also evident. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) suggest that fossils were local to the area. Pottery sherds and bones of extinct and extant vertebrates with cut and chop marks indicate human activity in previous centuries. Scarcity of charcoal and human artifacts suggests only occasional visitation to the site by humans. The fossil assemblage from this site is unusual in that, while it contains many sloth lemurs, it lacks ratites, hippopotami, and crocodiles typical of nearly all other Holocene subfossil sites on Madagascar. 

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3. Using Mitogenomes to Explore the Social and Ecological Contexts of Crocodile Mummification in Ancient Egypt

   https://doi.org/10.3374/014.063.0101  

   Hekkala, Evon R; Colten, Roger; Cunningham, Seth W; Smith, Oliver; Ikram, Salima (April 2022, Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History)

   NA (Ed.)

   We used isotopic and genomic data to explore the ecological and social context of cultural practices associated with the mummification of crocodiles in ancient Egypt. Ancient DNA was recovered from four mummified crocodile hatchlings held in the collections of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University. Previous genetic analyses of crocodile mummies have indicated that most mummies represent the newly resurrected taxon, Crocodylus suchus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1807. However, mitogenomic data for the Yale Peabody Museum mum- mies indicates that these specimens represent the first genomically authenticated represen- tatives of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768) in museum collections. We explore these findings within the broader context of modern and historical distributions of both crocodile species and the potential implications for our understanding of funerary practices involving crocodiles in ancient Egypt. 

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4. Evolutionary trend of the broad-snouted crocodile from the Eocene, Early Miocene and recent ones from Egypt

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91167-w  

   El-Degwi, Eman S; AbdelGawad, Mohamed K; Radwaan, Shaimaa E; Sliem, Rania E; Sileem, Afifi; Elhady, Salwa_Ibrahim Abd (December 2025, Scientific Reports)

   Abstract Skulls are a critical part of the crocodile through which we can distinguish between the different genera and species. Most of the crocodiles which previously studied from the Eocene–Oligocene to the Miocene times in Egypt were concerned with the identification of the genus and sometimes on the species without a detailed focusing on the evolution, comparing between them and trying to determine the ancestor or the closest species of them to the living crocodile in Egypt. The only known living species ofCrocodylusin Egypt isCrocodylus niloticuswhich inhabits Lake Nasser in Aswan, southern of Egypt. From the Cenozoic era, broad snouted crocodiles diversity had been reported in Egypt. About 35 million years ago, through the Eocene epoch, the crocodilian fossils from Fayum provided evidence of the diversity of crocodile species includingCrocodylus articepsandCrocodylus megarhinus. In addition to that, throughout the Early Miocene epoch, from about 18 million years ago, in Wadi Moghra Egypt crocodilian fossils demonstrate another diversity, extended to the first appearance ofRimasuchus lloydiwhich placed inside theOsteolaeminaelater. By various measurements and carefully morphological examination of the different species recorded from Egypt, it was found that there are high levels of variation in morphology of the skulls including their dimensions, and the sutures shapes especially between premaxilla and maxilla ventrally and also between maxilla and palatine, as well as the extension of the maxillary ramus of the ectopterygoid. Using cluster analysis, it is proven that EoceneCrocodylusis the ancestor to all known broad snouted species recorded from Egypt since the Eocene time. The closest species to the Eocene specimen is the livingCrocodylusniloticus. That in fact make that most of the broad snouted crocodiles in Egypt are endemic. 

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5. Human–crocodile interactions in the western Solomon Islands: the importance of local data for reducing attacks on people

   https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060532300176X  

   Aswani, Shankar; Matanzima, Joshua (May 2024, Oryx)

   Interactions between people and the saltwater crocodileCrocodylus porosusfrequently occur on islands and in coastal regions. Saltwater crocodiles impact people's lives and livelihoods by attacking them, resulting in minor or serious injuries, and by interfering in people's foraging activities. Retaliation may include killing the crocodiles involved. To reduce such human–crocodile interactions, data about the occurrence of incidents are required. We present data on encounters with crocodiles and attacks on people in the Roviana Lagoon, Solomon Islands. Data includes time of incident, gender, age and activity of the victim, water conditions and what happened to the crocodile after the incident. We used a questionnaire to capture the details of incidents that occurred during 2000–2020 in the villages of Dunde, Baraulu, Nusa Hope and Kozou. Most incidents were in the evening, mostly involving women, and most victims were aged 20–39 years or ≥ 60 years. In all cases people were attacked while gleaning for shellfish in the mangroves. Attacks occurred irrespective of whether the water was clear or murky, and in all cases the crocodiles were not killed. Such site-specific data will facilitate the formulation of strategies for reducing negative interactions between people and crocodiles in this particular location. Although the saltwater crocodile is categorized as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, research such as this provides data that can be used for promoting coexistence with and conservation of this species. 

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