The research group Aragosaurus-IUCA of the University of Zaragoza, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, just described a new Jurassic marine crocodile. Maledictosuchus riclaensis, popularly known as The Crocodile of Ricla (due to the town where it was found and the nearly 20 years he has had to wait to be studied in depth) , is the oldest and best preserved marine crocodile found in the Iberian peninsula.

It belongs to Metriorrínquidos,  a group of typical Jurassic marine crocodile that became extinct in the Cretaceous, so that coexisted with dinosaurs.

The fossil was found in 1994 during prospecting campaigns prior to the construction of the AVE tracks. This is a nearly complete skull, with exceptional preservation. Is deposited in the  University of Zaragoza (Sala Lucas Mallada. Geological Building. Faculty of Sciences).

For more information

http://prensa.unizar.es/noticias/1302/130211_z0_4.pdf