An extinct crocodile species discovered in North Carolina is one of the oldest and largest crocodile relatives ever known. And arguably the most terrifying.

Scientists announced the discovery of "Carnufex carolinensis," a mnstrous, nine foot-long crocodilian ancestor that roamed prehistoric North Carolina some 231 million years ago. Carnufex carolinensis means "Carolina Butcher".

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It walked on its hind legs and devoured armored reptiles and other small prey that made their home in North Carolina, which was then just breaking apart from the supercontinent, Pangaea.

The Carnufex carolinensis fossil was actually discovered a decade ago, but its bones have been kept locked away in the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

"When we got the bones out and prepared them, we found out that it was actually a really cool species. It was one of the oldest and largest members of crocodylomorph -- the same group that crocodiles belong -- to that we've ever seen. And that size was really surprising," said Lindsay Zanno, assistant professor at North Carolina State University and lead author of the new research paper.

The skull, spine and upper forelimb of this reptilian killer were uncovered in the Pekin geologic formation in North Carolina's Chatham County, where ancient sediment has revealed other prehistoric remains.

Most crocodile relatives from that time were smaller in size and lower on the food chain. But at nine feet long, a height it reached by walking on two legs, the Carolina Butcher would have been one of the fiercest animals predators in its domain.

This is the first time a crocodile ancestor has been shown in the mix.

TagsBefore Dinosaurs There Were 9-Foot Crocodile Ancestors, Dinosaurs, 9-Foot Crocodile, crocodile, Carolina Butcher, ancient crocodile, reptile, Fossil, crocodile fossil, Carnufex carolinensis