Episode Details

Ultrastenos is an extinct genus of Australian crocodilian from the Late Oligocene, primarily discovered within the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. Although researchers initially hypothesized it was a long-snouted predator similar to a gharial, a 2024 taxonomic revision clarified that it actually possessed a short, flattened snout. This updated study also determined that Ultrastenos willisi is a synonym for the previously named "Baru" huberi, leading to the official scientific name Ultrastenos huberi. Measuring approximately 1.5 to 2 meters in length, this reptile was a small member of the Mekosuchinae subfamily. It likely lived in forest lakes and ponds, coexisting with larger relatives by occupying a different ecological niche. These findings provide significant insights into the evolutionary diversity and environmental adaptations of prehistoric Australian crocodiles.