A recent research paper has unveiled astonishing details about how a prehistoric sea cow fell victim to two different predators: a crocodilian and a shark. This study provides insight into both the hunting strategies of ancient creatures and the complex food web that existed millions of years ago.
A recent study has shed light on how a prehistoric sea cow was not just hunted by one, but by two types of carnivores—a crocodilian and a shark—offering valuable insights into the hunting behaviors of ancient animals and the intricate food chain that existed millions of years ago.
Featured in the scholarly Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, this study is one of the rare instances showing a single creature being targeted by multiple predators during the Early to Middle Miocene epoch (23 million to 11.6 million years ago).
Evidence from the skull indicates that a dugongine sea cow, belonging to the now-extinct genus Culebratherium, was initially attacked by an ancient crocodile, after which a tiger shark (Galeocerdo aduncus) scavenged the remains in what is today northwestern Venezuela.
Distinct deep bite marks concentrated on the sea cow’s snout suggest that the crocodile first attempted to capture its prey by the snout for suffocation.
Following this, two sizable cuts with rounded starting points imply that the crocodile dragged and then tore into the sea cow. Fossil marks exhibiting striations and slashes indicate that the crocodile likely performed a ‘death roll’ while clinging to its prey, a behavior still seen in modern crocodiles today.
The discovery of a tiger shark tooth (Galeocerdo aduncus) in the neck area of the sea cow, along with bite marks found across its skeleton, illustrates how the creature’s remains were further consumed by these scavengers.
A team from the University of Zurich, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, as well as institutions in Venezuela, including Museo Paleontológico de Urumaco and Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda, asserts that their discoveries strengthen the idea that ancient food chains operated in a manner similar to those we observe today.
“When we observe predators in contemporary wildlife, we often find their prey, which in turn functions as a food source for other animals; however, fossils showing this interaction are significantly less common,” states Aldo Benites-Palomino, the study’s lead author from the Department of Paleontology in Zurich.
“We have previously identified sperm whales that were scavenged by various shark species, and this new research emphasizes the role of sea cows in the ancient food chain,” he adds.
While fossil evidence of food chain interactions is not uncommon, most is fragmentary and may show unclear signs. As a result, distinguishing between active predation and scavenging is often complex.
“Our results are among the few records demonstrating multiple predators targeting a single prey, thereby providing insights into the food chain dynamics in this area during the Miocene,” the researchers concluded.
The team’s findings came from the Early to Middle Miocene Agua Clara Formation, located south of Coro, Venezuela. They discovered a fragmentary skeleton, including a partial skull and eighteen vertebrae.
Co-author, Professor of Palaeobiology Marcelo R Sanchez-Villagra remarked on the extraordinary nature of the discovery, particularly because it was found 100 kilometers away from any previous fossil discoveries.
“A local farmer alerted us to some unusual ‘rocks,’ which piqued our interest, leading us to explore the site,” Sanchez-Villagra, Director at the Palaeontological Institute & Museum at Zurich, recounts.
“Initially, we were unsure of the geology at the site, and the first fossils we uncovered were skull fragments. It took time to confirm these were indeed sea cow remains—a rather unusual find,” he adds.
“By reviewing geological maps and analyzing the local sediments, we established the age of the rocks containing the fossils.”
“Excavating the partial skeleton took several visits. Given the size of these animals, we had to excavate a considerable amount of sediment,” he explained.
“This region has a history of predation on marine mammals, and the remarkable preservation of the fossil’s cortical layer can be attributed to the fine sediments that encapsulated it.”
“After pinpointing the fossil site, our team organized a paleontological recovery operation, taking care to use protective casing techniques.”
The operation lasted around seven hours and involved a five-member team working diligently on the specimen, while the detailed preparation took months, especially the delicate work on the cranial materials.
