4IntermediateGeneralScience

Ancient Crocodile That Could Run Like a Dog Found in England

Scientists have found the bones of a 215-million-year-old crocodile relative in England. Unlike today's slow crocodiles, this animal had long legs and could run very fast. The discovery shows that ancient crocodiles were much more different from each other than we thought.

1 min readLevel 4March 24, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

species

/ˈspiːʃiːz/

noun

A group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young together

“Scientists discovered a new species of bird in the forest.”

fossil

/ˈfɒsəl/

noun

The remains of a very old animal or plant found in rock

“The children found a fossil of a fish in the rocks.”

ancestor

/ˈænsestər/

noun

An animal or person that lived a long time ago and is related to a modern one

“Dogs and wolves share a common ancestor.”

diverse

/daɪˈvɜːrs/

adjective

Including many different types or kinds

“The city has a diverse population from many countries.”

creature

/ˈkriːtʃər/

noun

Any living animal, especially one that is unusual or strange

“They saw a strange creature swimming in the lake.”

discovery

/dɪˈskʌvəri/

noun

The act of finding something new or unknown for the first time

“The discovery of the old city was exciting news.”

Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

Imagine a crocodile that could run faster than a dog. Scientists have found the bones of this surprising creature. It lived about 215 million years ago in England. The animal looked more like a fast racing dog. It had long, thin legs and a light body.

The new species is called Galahadosuchus jonesi. Scientists found its fossil in a quarry in Gloucestershire. The bones were actually dug up back in 1969. For decades, people thought they belonged to another species. A researcher named Ewan Bodenham studied the bones carefully. His team found 13 important differences that proved it was new.

This ancient creature was very different from modern crocodiles. Today's crocodiles are heavy and live mostly in water. But this ancestor stood tall on its legs. It hunted small animals on dry, hot land. Its name comes from Sir Galahad, a famous knight. The species name honors a Welsh school teacher.

This discovery has changed how scientists think about crocodiles. Ancient crocodiles were much more diverse than we knew. Some ran on land while others swam in rivers. If we study more old fossils, we might find more surprises. This reminds us that nature is always full of wonder.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
How old is the crocodile relative that scientists found?
2
What made this ancient crocodile different from modern ones?
3
When were the fossil bones first dug up?
4
How many differences did the team find to prove it was a new species?
5
Where does the name 'Galahadosuchus' come from?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
How old was the ancient crocodile relative that scientists found?
2
Where in England were the fossil bones discovered?
3
How was this ancient crocodile different from modern crocodiles?
4
Why did scientists think the bones belonged to another species for so long?
5
Who is the new species named after, and why?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
What do you think is the most interesting fact about this discovery?
2
Have you ever visited a natural history museum? What did you see there?
3
If you could travel back in time to see any animal, which one would you choose?
4
Do you think there are still many unknown species waiting to be found? Why?
5
What surprises you most about how different ancient animals were from modern ones?