---
title: "British Scientists Discover New 170-Million-Year-Old Crocodile Species with Toothpick-Like Teeth"
description: "Scientists discovered a new 170-million-year-old ancient crocodile species, Ctenosuchus tenuidens, with ultra-thin toothpick-like teeth that fed on small fish in Morocco."
date: 2026-10-15T06:15:08.717Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/british-scientists-discover-new-crocodile-species-170-million-years-ago
tags: [science, paleontology, dinosaurs, evolution, morocco]
author: "Alexander Buran"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# British Scientists Discover New 170-Million-Year-Old Crocodile Species with Toothpick-Like Teeth

![Remains of the new prehistoric crocodile species Ctenosuchus tenuidens from 170 million years ago](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/15/britanskie-uchenye-otkryli-novyy-vid-krokodila-170-millionov-let-nazad/britanskie-uchenye-otkryli-novyy-vid-krokodila-170-millionov-let-nazad-1.webp)

## Key Points

- A new ancient crocodile species, Ctenosuchus tenuidens, dating back 170 million years has been discovered.
- The animal's teeth were extremely thin, resembling toothpicks with a ribbed structure.
- The crocodile lived in modern-day Morocco and fed on small fish through filtration.
- The discovery expands scientific knowledge on the evolutionary diversity and diet of ancient reptiles.

Paleontologists from Great Britain and Morocco have made a sensational discovery, announcing the remains of a previously unknown prehistoric crocodile species. The ancient reptile inhabited our planet approximately 170 million years ago during the Jurassic period. This new find fundamentally changes scientists' understanding of species diversity, habitats, and dietary habits of the ancient relatives of modern crocodiles.

### Unique Anatomy and Toothpick Teeth

The main distinctive feature of the newly described species, officially named *Ctenosuchus tenuidens*, is its remarkable teeth. Their structure was so thin and elongated that researchers jokingly and scientifically compared them to ordinary toothpicks. Upon detailed examination of the finds under a powerful microscope, paleontologists discovered a unique structure: closely spaced ridges ran along the teeth, indicating a very specific jaw apparatus specialization.

### Diet and Resemblance to Pterosaurs

Due to such specific jaw and tooth structures, *Ctenosuchus tenuidens* could not hunt large prey. Scientists from the University of Portsmouth and Hassan II University in Morocco established that the animal's diet consisted mainly of small fish, crustaceans, and other small aquatic organisms. Notably, the anatomical structure of this crocodile's head shows a striking resemblance to certain Jurassic pterosaurs. The ancient predator likely obtained food in a similar way, effectively filtering small organisms from the water column.

### Discovery Site and Evolutionary Significance

The fossilized remains of the ancient creature were found in the rugged and picturesque Atlas Mountains located in southeastern modern Morocco. This discovery is of colossal importance to modern paleontology. It clearly demonstrates that various groups of prehistoric animals independently adapted to similar ecological niches and dietary strategies during evolution. Furthermore, the find proves that ancient crocodilomorphs inhabited much more diverse environments and had a wider variety of feeding habits than previously thought.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Британские ученые открыли новый вид крокодила, живший 170 миллионов лет назад – Zamin.uz, 15.10.2026](https://zamin.uz/ru/mir/224551-britanskie-uchenye-otkryli-novyy-vid-krokodila-zhivshiy-170-millionov-let-nazad.html) - Первичная новостная публикация об открытии вида Ктеносучус тенуиденс.
- [170 млн лет назад: новый вид крокодила удивил палеонтологов своим жутким оскалом](https://mail.kz/ru/news/kz-news/-mln-let-nazad-novyi-vid-krokodila-udivil-paleontologov-svoim-zhutkim-oskalom) - Дополнительный источник, подтверждающий особенности зубов и ареал обитания.
- [Учёные открыли новый вид крокодилов, живших 170 млн лет назад: чем удивили их зубы](https://www.unian.net/science/ctenosuchus-tenuidens-uchenye-otkryli-novyy-vid-drevnih-krokodilov-s-chrezvychayno-tonkimi-zubami-13527498.html) - Детальный разбор исследования ученых из Портсмута и Марокко.

## FAQ

### What is the name of the new ancient crocodile species?

The new species was officially named Ctenosuchus tenuidens.

### Where were the fossilized remains discovered?

The remains of the reptile were found in the Atlas Mountains in southeastern Morocco.

### What did this ancient crocodile feed on?

It fed on small fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms by filtering them out of the water.