A prehistoric crocodile that lived around 180 million years ago has been identified – almost 250 years after the discovery of its fossil remains.

A fossil skull found in a Bavarian town in the 1770s has been recognised as the now-extinct species Mystriosaurus laurillardi, which lived in tropical waters during the Jurassic Period.

For the past 60 years, it was thought the animal was part of a similar species, known as Steneosaurus bollensis, which existed around the same time, researchers say.

Read more at: The University of Edinburgh

Life reconstruction of Mystriosaurus (Photo credit: Julia Beier)