Reconstruction ofBaru darrowi by P. Murray

Baru darrowi was a very large crocodile. It reached 4 - 5 metres in length and had powerful jaws and long curved teeth that it used to catch marsupials and other mammals or birds.

Baru was the largest crocodile to live during Miocene times around 8 million years ago

Baru darrowi were very common at Alcoota. These crocodiles were one of the few predators in the area and their presence proves there was a permanent lake or stream at Alcoota, although it was probably not a reliable water source as no fish have been found there. This crocodile also spent a lot of time out of the water.

Scientists have found many bones at Alcoota all jammed together from animals that died in the space of a few years. One theory about what happened at Alcoota is that the climate was very unpredictable and there was little or no rain for a few years in that area. Plants died and the animals that ate plants died of starvation. Animals that ate other animals such as the Baru darrowi would not have had a regular food source and they too would have died out.

Baru darrowi skull, Museum of Central Australia	Reconstruction ofBaru darrowi skull by P. Murray	Reconstruction of Baru darrowi by P. Murray