Sea cow's final moments: Death by a crocodile, devoured by a shark

Fossils can reveal many intriguing pieces of information, not only about a specific species or its representative but also about the sequence of certain events. Scientists have reconstructed the death sequence of a sea cow, shedding light on its gruesome demise.

Events from millions of years ago are reflected in the fossilized remains that scientists examined and discussed in the "Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology." The article chronicles the death sequence of the sea cow, which has been deciphered through a detailed fossil analysis.

Research indicates that the fossil reveals a scenario where the sea cow fell victim to a crocodile attack and then had its remains scavenged by a shark. The international research team, comprising experts from Switzerland, Venezuela, and the USA, made a notable discovery in northwestern Venezuela. The precision with which the scientists could interpret this story is fascinating. The detailed analysis of the fossils was sufficient for this remarkable reconstruction.

The sea cow's skull, belonging to the extinct species Culebratherium, contained traces of an attack by a prehistoric crocodile. After the crocodile finished its meal, bite marks from a tiger shark (Galeocerdo aduncus) appeared on the victim's body.

This natural tragedy could be reconstructed thanks to the deep tooth marks on the sea cow's snout, indicating an attempt by the crocodile to suffocate its victim. The crocodile employed a technique involving violent spinning around its own axis—a behaviour still exhibited by modern crocodiles. This type of attack was effective for crocodiles, aiding in food acquisition.

During such attacks, the victim, held by the snout or limbs with the crocodile's teeth, either weakened or suffocated while spinning along with the predator. After this dramatic death, the remains of the sea cow were devoured by a scavenger. Details of the study are available on tandfonline.com.