Where have fossilised deinosuchus fossils been found? Still, Pakicetus was merely an ancestor of whales. At seven million years old, the C. checchiai skull predates all known crocodile fossils in America, the oldest of which are about five million years old, Lucy Hicks reports for Science. Most of the things they dig up are worthless, some wind up at mineral or rock shows/shops, and a few are deemed valuable enough to be further studied. That's about the same time as the dinosaurs died out, so it's safe to that Crocodyliformes were around long before the first dinosaurs roamed the earth. They have also seen evidence of two ice ages. 3 - Crocodiles can be found in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America. Despite the fact that crocodiles and alligators may have had some difficulties in the Ice Age, they could have survived by avoiding cold environments like anything else. During Mesozoic and early Cenozoic times, crocodylomorphs were far more diverse than they are now. It was approximately 6.5 feet long and was associated with crocodiles, possibly dating back to 163.5-145 million years ago, and fossils have been discovered in Europe and Africa. By studying these fossils, we can learn about the evolution of crocodiles and the changing environments in which they have lived. HIDE SOLD. Ancient footprints from a giant crocodile were recently described for the first time in a historical biology article published in the journal. It's one of the ironies of paleontology that the earliest reptile to be conclusively identified as a prehistoric crocodile lived not in the water, but on the land. The species has never been found in Canada, despite being discovered in the United States and Mexico. However, 100 million years ago, the stretch of northern Africa now dominated by the Sahara Desert was a green, lush landscape threaded with numerous rivers and populated by dinosaurs, crocodiles, pterosaurs and even small mammals. In the frozen rocks of an island 800 miles from the North Pole, scientists have discovered a group of fossils that clearly mark one of the most crucial . Georgalis, who published a paper on the fossils in Historical Biology, spoke about the finds to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) and noted that these are some of the oldest crocodile fossils ever found in Greece. This group included crocodiles, birds, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs. Although it was just a fragment of the crocs massive skull, scientists were able to semi-accurately assess its head proportions by performing CAT scans and geometrical analysis, and hence the rest of its buss-sized body. Crocodilians arose some 200 million years ago, when they prowled the land with early dinosaurs. One odd fact about Aegisuchus is that it lived in a part of the world not generally known for its abundant wildlife. Dmitry Bogdanov/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0. Nobu Tamura/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0. Isisfordia: 100.5-93.9 million years ago, small Australian crocodile, 3 feet long, looked similar to modern-day croc, fossils found in Australia. Given its large head and leg-like rear flippers, it seems unlikely that the ocean-dwelling crocodile Dakosaurus was a particularly fast swimmer, though it was clearly speedy enough to prey on its fellow marine reptiles. Since then, a number of new species have been discovered, some of which are more closely related to crocodilians than to other reptiles. The oldest known crocodile fossils date back to the late Triassic period, and the oldest living crocodilians are from the Late Cretaceous period (about 65 million to 65.5 million B.C.). We come across fossils on a regular basis as we explore the world around us. It was the worlds most powerful predator at its peak, preying on large dinosaurs and other large animals. Paleontologist Tyler Lyson points to a crocodilian fossil embedded in a rock concretion. It was initially thought to be a crocodile, but a more recent study of its skull has revealed that it is a different animal than previously thought. Aegisuchus: 100.5-93.9 million years ago, large flat head, nicknamed the Shieldhead, fossils found in Morrocco. Hakuna was gifted to the zoo, along with a female crocodile named Matata (who died in 2014), by famous actress and singer Josephine Baker. 6 Largest Alligators in the World This late Triassic phytosaur--a family of prehistoric reptiles that evolved to look uncannily like modern crocodiles--measured over 20 feet from head to tail and weighed about half a ton, making it one of the largest phytosaurs of its North American habitat. A remote ancestor of modern crocodiles, Geosaurus was a different creature entirely from the contemporary (and mostly bigger) marine reptiles of the middle to late Jurassic period, the plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs, though it seems to have made its living in the exact same way, by hunting down and eating smaller fish. On the face of it (sorry), there's no reason to doubt this conclusion: after all, convergent evolution--the tendency of different animals to evolve the same features when they occupy the same habitats--is a common theme in the history of life on earth. Still, since soft tissue doesn't preserve well in the fossil record, Notosuchus' pig-like proboscis is far from a done deal! The final part of the Mesozoic Era, the CretaceousPeriod, began about 145 million years ago and lasted until about 65 million years ago. Crocodiles are sometimes called living fossils, looking much the same as they did millions of years ago. It is only known from a partial braincase, but even that part gives hints about its enormous size: its braincase is much larger in volume than that of any other crocodyliform (about 40 cm 3 or 2.44 cubic inches). For a time, Gustave was believed to be dead as he did not surface and attempt another attack in years. Henry currently lives at the Crocworld Conservation Centre in Scottburgh, Kwa-Zulu Natal, where the caretakers and visitors celebrate his birthday with style, handing out free cupcakes and providing fun entertainment such as dancing and face painting. Despite that fact, they are still often seen as a threat and shot, giving them long term injuries and months of suffering before a slow death. Lolong briefly held the title of largest crocodile in captivity from the Guinness Book of World Records until he died in captivity in 2013, at an estimated age of 50. The Modern English form crocodile was adapted directly from the Classical Latin crocodlus in the 16th century, replacing the earlier form. However, Champsosaurus lived alongside the genuine crocodiles of the late Cretaceous and early Tertiary periods (both families of reptiles managing to survive the intervening K/T Extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs), and it also behaved like a crocodile, spearing fish out of the rivers of North America and western Europe with its long, narrow, tooth-studded snout. Unlike saltwater crocodiles, freshwater crocodiles like Mr. Freshie are harmless reptiles and have never been linked to any human fatalities. Sarcosuchus was a large animal, up to 10 metres long and weighing up to 1.5 tons, as was the case with the lion. The oldest specimen of this iconic pterosaur was recently found near Painten, a small town in the southern part of the Franconian Alb in central Bavaria. Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) Mourasuchus: 23-5.3 million years ago, one of the largest crocodiles ever, up to 39 feet long, with a duck-like bill and pelican-like pouch, fossils found in South America, a unique specimen on our list of ancient crocodiles. "Prehistoric Crocodile Evolution." What distinguished the first crocodiles from thefirst dinosaurswas the shape and musculature of their jaws, which tended to be much more prominent and powerful. Freshie, an elderly saltwater crocodile, is thought to be the worlds oldest living crocodile, having lived for 140 years. The prehistoric crocodile Metriorhynchus comprised about a dozen known species, making it one of the most common marine reptiles of late Jurassic Europe and South America (though the fossil evidence for this latter continent is sketchy). Species: Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) The fossil, described in a study in the journal Fossil Record, is about one million years older than other Pterodactylus specimens. The latest in a long line of giant prehistoric "crocs," including SuperCroc (aka Sarcosuchus) and BoarCroc (aka Kaprosuchus), the ShieldCroc, also known as Aegisuchus, was a giant, river-dwelling crocodile of middle Cretaceous northern Africa. Radiocarbon dating has confirmed that many individuals have lived longer than 1,000 years, and some are suspected to be older than 2,000 years. The world's oldest crocodilian eggs laid 152 million years ago have been discovered in cliffs in Portugal. We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to, we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution no matter how small. - 18 Jan 2023, 11:05. He lived long despite being shot twice in the tail and left eye, leaving him blind and badly injured. The 96-million-year-old fossil from Texas is the oldest prehistoric crocodile of its kind in the world, according to paleontologist Thomas L. Adams at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, who . Notosuchus: 85 million years ago, one of the first crocodiles thought to be entirely terrestrial (living on land only), about 5 feet long, fossils found in Argentina, Patagonia. Crabs are fossils, and the horseshoe crab was discovered 450 million years ago. But the crocodile family is much older. - 18 Jan 2023, 09:03, In News, Portugal, Environment, Politics The discovery of Sarcosuchus reveals how diverse the Early Cretaceous period was, as well as how much remains to be discovered. Fossils of the earliest-known fungus, Tortotubus, were discovered by paleontologists in Scotland in 2016. Beyond the shape of its snout, the moderately sized (only about 10 feet long) Diplocynodon was characterized by the tough, knobby body armor that covered not only its neck and back, but its belly as well. 1 - Crocodiles are one of the oldest creatures on earth. Unlike Australia's modern crocodiles, which are believed to have migrated from Africa, crocodiles of the Baru . According to . Ghedoghedo/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0. This epoch in historybegan about 251 million years ago and ended 65 million years ago. A crocodile can grow to be up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1,000 pounds, making it one of the largest animals on the planet. (Some paleontologists believe Angistorhinus was actually a species of Rutiodon, the giveaway being the position of the nostrils high up on these phytosaurs' snouts). As far as reptiles go, crocodiles are probably one of the most common creatures that come to mind and one of the most deadly. - 18 Jan 2023, 10:01, In News, Portugal They were the only members of Pseudosuchia to survive the end-Triassic extinction . ), Watch: Shark Hunts Massive Saltwater Crocodile in Australia, Discover the One Place on Earth that Crocodiles and Alligators Coexist, Prehistoric Crocodiles: The Complete List of Ancient Crocodiles. Location: Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Crocodile-like reptiles, the crocodylomorphs, existed since the early days of dinosaurs. Baurusuchus: 93.9-89.8 million years ago, genus of land crocodiles, eyes and nostrils on the side of the skull, 11-13 feet long, fossils found in Brazil. However, because their sister group was present in the Cretaceous, gavialids must be at least that old; we simply haven't found fossils of their earliest representatives yet. Furthermore, the survival of salamanders and frogs is a source of great comfort. Archosaurs looked very much like crocodiles, except that their nostrils were positioned on the tops of their heads rather than the tips of their snouts. Pholidosaurus: 145-100.5 million years ago, long-snouted marine crocodile, fossils found in Germany. Location: Queensland, Australia. That's certainly the case with crocodiles, which can trace their lineage back 200 million years to Erpetosuchus, a tiny, foot-long archosaur that prowled the swamps of North America and Europe during the late Triassic and early Jurassic periods. The fossil was unearthed by a Portuguese geologist in Montemor-o-Velho, Coimbra district, in 2003, but only now has its ancient origins been confirmed and announced. The oldest specimen of this iconic pterosaur was recently found near Painten, a small town in the southern part of the Franconian Alb in central Bavaria. Protosuchus: 201.3-145 million years ago, one of the first crocodiles, small only about 3 feet long, short snout, fossils found in Arizona, Canada, and South Africa. See 'Dominator' - The Largest Crocodile In, Discover How Crocodiles Can "Surf" for Hundreds, Discover the Largest Sea-Dwelling Crocodile Ever Found, The Largest Saltwater Crocodile in the World, scientists propose that ancient crocodiles, strongest bite force of any animal in the world, See Dominator The Largest Crocodile In The World, And As Big As A Rhino, Discover the Massive Crocodiles that Live in Dens 40 Feet Below the Surface, Discover the Largest Sea-Dwelling Crocodile Ever Found (Bigger than a Great White! Deinous (/*da*n*sju*k*s/) is an extinct genus of alligatoroid crocodilians, which lived 82 to 73 million years ago (Ma) in the late Cretaceous period and was closely related to modern alligators and crocodiles. Bob Strauss is a science writer and the author of several books, including "The Big Book of What, How and Why" and "A Field Guide to the Dinosaurs of North America.". These animals can be found in rivers, lakes, and marshes all along the coast. In Community, Algarve In many cases, crocodiles lived in relatively unaffected areas of the asteroids path. Gustave is a reputed man eater who has been terrorizing local villagers since the 1990s. I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. Strauss, Bob. The name Smilosuchus partakes of the same Greek root as Smilodon, better known as the Saber-Tooth Tiger--never mind that this prehistoric reptile's teeth weren't particularly impressive. Despite their fearsome mass,these giant crocodiles probably subsisted on largely on snakes and turtles. As the Cretaceous Period drew to a close, the number of crocodile species began to dwindle. This fearsome crocodile went extinct about 40,000 years ago, along with most of the mammalian megafauna of Pleistocene Australia; the Quinkana may have been hunted to extinction by the first Australian aborigines, which it probably preyed on every chance it got. Dmitry Bogdanov/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 4.0. info@theportugalnews.com, 2023 The Portugal News - Established 1977. When I am not writing I love going to my kids' soccer games, watching movies, taking on DIY projects and running with our giant Labradoodle "Tango". A 2004 documentary Capturing the Killer Croc, shows the attempts of Patrice Faye and other scientists to humanely capture and kill Gustave using a baited trap cage. Species: Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) The false gharial and saltwater crocodile are just two of the 101 reptile and amphibian species recorded in the RER.The false gharial (known locally as the sepit crocodile) is also one of 55 globally threatened species identified so far in the RER.Learn more about the unique ecosystem of the area and the efforts being made to preserve its biodiversity by reading our field stories. When it was discovered in South America in the 1970's, Gracilisuchus was thought be an early dinosaur--after all, it was clearly a fast, two-legged carnivore (though it often walked on all fours), and its long tail and relatively short snout bore a distinctly dinosaur-like profile. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Green Mamba: The Snake With The Most Potent Venom, The Galapagos Tortoise: A Fascinating Example Of Adaptation, Mazuri Dry Food Is Not The Best Diet For Tortoises, Crocodile Geckos: The Pros And Cons Of Aggressive Lizards, How To Care For Your Tortoise: The Basics, The Black Mamba: One Of The Worlds Most Venomous Snakes, Crocodiles: Living In Fresh Salt And Brackish Water. That species was found by a nine-year-old boy in P.E.I. Vannini Hospital (Rome). Location: Yekaterinburg, Russia. The oldest specimen of this iconic pterosaur was recently found near Painten, a small town in the southern part of the Franconian Alb in central Bavaria. The result: Not a microchip.In fact, in 2014, the university released a statement to the Max Portal Russian news agency clarifying the reality behind the supposed microchip.. What many believed to be a 240-million-year-old microchip is in fact a sea lily fossil which dates back some 400 million years. The earliest crocs were small, terrestrial, two-legged sprinters, and many were vegetarian. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The animal is . Among the most noteworthy phytosaurs wereRutiodonand Mystriosuchus. Its closest relative was another sea-going crocodile, Metriorhynchus. A greater flamingo named Greater died at Adelaide Zoo in January 2014 at the age of at least 83. 30, 2022, thoughtco.com/prehistoric-crocodile-profile-4047616. The newly-discovered Teleocrater rhadinus is the earliest member of the bird-like side of the family. The most common habitat for them is near shallow ocean waters, in sandy or muddy bottoms. The oldest fossils in the fossil record date from 3.5 billion years ago, however it wasn't until around 600 million years ago that complex, multi-cellular life began was first preserved in the fossil record. Required fields are marked *. Birds are the only dinosaur species that survived the extinction event. He is the oldest crocodile in captivity ever. Mr. Freshie was estimated to be around 10 feet long and weighed around 1,000 pounds. $49. For example, if a crocodile dies in a dry environment, its body can become mummified. These beasts died out about 40,000 BCE. A jaw of a dwarf crocodile has been discovered in Scotland, making it the oldest member of the group ever discovered. In March 2015, an old crocodile by the name Hakuna died in the Blijdorp zoo in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He was brought to the zoo in 1930 fully grown and was thought to be at least 85 years old, making him the oldest crocodile in the zoos history. Casey Holliday, a University of Missouri researcher, was looking through some of the hundreds of unlabeled items kept in a storage facility when he come about a remarkable find a skull fragment from an ancient croccodile, dating back from the late Cretaceous, around 95 million years ago. He was so hostile that when he arrived in his new home in Mamba Village he ate 10 of his fellow crocodiles and was thus put into solitary confinement. There are some animals that remain, In general, very few sea turtles are in captivity around the world. (Please see the following guidelines for more information on how to report fossil discoveries.) Sarcosuchus: 110 million years ago, nicknamed the SuperCroc, large crocodile estimated at 29-40 feet long, full-bodied and heavy tail, fossils found in Algeria, Brazil, Morocco, and Niger. Smilosuchus: 237-201.3 million years ago, two species of different sizes, both had long legs and a long snout, the smaller was around 16 feet, the larger was around 22 feet, fossils found in Arizona. Mark Marathon/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0. Age: 114 years old Mr. Freshie was caught in 1970 by crocodile wrangling duo Steve Irwin and his father, Bob Irwin, in the Moorehead River. We may be reminded of the Age of Reptiles by the eyes, the armor, and the teeth that resemble those of the reptile. The fossils also displayed an elongated skull that is found in whales. They are the. Lets take a look at the complete list of ancient crocodiles! Quinkana: 24 million to 40,000 years ago, a large Australian crocodile, long-legged tall crocodile that was about 5 feet tall at the back, up to 20 feet long, land crocodile, fossils found in Queensland, Australia. Dibothrosuchus is technically classified as a "sphenosuchid crocodylomorph," not directly ancestral to modern crocodiles but more like a second cousin a few times removed; its closest relative seems to have been the even tinier Terrestrisuchus of late Triassic Europe, which may itself have been a juvenile of Saltoposuchus. - 18 Jan 2023, 13:03, In News, Portugal Archosaurs, the crocodile's oldest relative, were among the many plant-eating dinos that thrived during this period. The asteroid that struck Earth 65 million years ago killed the dinosaurs and many other creatures, but crocodiles didnt perish as a result of the disaster. Crocodiles are known to live for a long time due to their ability to grow to large proportions. One of the tribes solicited the services of an elephant hunter known as Sir Henry, who the crocodiles in named after, to kill him. Age: 117 years old 8 Oldest Reptiles in the World Giant crocodile fossils have been discovered in Kenya dating from the Mesozoic Era, over 200 million years ago. The fossil was unearthed by a Portuguese geologist in Montemor-o-Velho, Coimbra district, in 2003, but only now has its ancient origins been confirmed and announced. 8 Oldest Reptiles in the World Erpetosuchus: 237-201.3 million years ago, one of the oldest crocodiles, walked similar to a greyhound, almost two feet long, smaller crocodile, fossils found in Scottland and Connecticut. Recently discovered in North Carolina, Carnufex was one of the largest "crocodylomorphs" of North America, and may well have been the apex predator of its ecosystem (the first true dinosaurs evolved in South America at about the same time, and tended to be much smaller; in any case, they didn't make it to what would become North America until millions of years later). The first evidence of crocodile-like phytosaurs from southern Africa shows that the animals were far more widely distributed than previously thought. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. But how do these ancient creatures end up as fossils? But other physical traits ofTriassic-andJurassic-era crocodiles, such as bipedal postures and vegetarian diets, were quite distinctive. Together, the names Hakuna Matata form an African phrase that means no worries., Year of Birth: around 1916 4 - The largest crocodile ever recorded was an 18-footer from Northern Territory in Australia. Landowners are legally permitted to keep fossils discovered on their property. - 18 Jan 2023, 12:04, In News Stomatosuchus: 100.5-93.9 million years ago, large crocodile but toothless on the bottom, had a pelican-like pouch under its snout, scientists are curious what it ate, about 32 feet long, fossils found in Egypt. Palaeontologists announced the discovery yesterday, of the 95 million year old fossil, which is believed to be of a new species of crocodile and the oldest in the world. Phytosaur: 229-200 million years ago, nicknamed plant lizard, semi-aquatic gharial-like crocodile, long skinny snout with pronounced sharp front teeth, about 10 feet long, fossils found in North America, Europe, and India. Still, the head of this ancient reptile was somewhat comical by prehistoric standards, looking a bit like a pig's snout pasted onto a grumpy trout. Although it's technically classified as a phytosaur rather than a prehistoric crocodile, Rutiodon cut a distinctive crocodilian profile, with its long, low-slung body, sprawling legs, and narrow, pointed snout. An educated guess is great, but firm evidence is better. Pakasuchus: 125-100.5 million years ago, the crocodile that is trying to be a mammal, had teeth similar to mammals and a dog-like nose at the end of its snout, long legs but small only about 20 inches long, nickname Cat crocodile, fossils found in South Africa and Tanzania. Crocodiles live in the water as a large predatory reptile from the sauropsid family. This is because they are fossils. Crocodiles have been called the ultimate survivors by some researchers. Technically classified as a phytosaur, and thus only distantly related to modern crocodiles, the late Triassic Smilosuchus would have given true prehistoric crocodiles like Sarcosuchus and Deinosuchus (which lived tens of millions of years later) a run for their money. What's the oldest species on Earth? 10 Rarest Animals in the World It's not a direct ancestor of dinosaurs, the authors say, but it's the oldest known dinosaur cousin. Metriorhynchus: 163.5-145 million years ago, marine crocodile with a fluke tail like a dolphin, one of the better known prehistoric crocodiles, around 10 feet long, many fossils from Europe. In a new study, researchers re-examined a 7-million-year-old crocodile skull from an ancient species known as Crocodylus checchiai (pictured). This crocodile was estimated to weigh approximately 17,600 pounds and be 40 feet long when it was discovered. It wasn't the biggest prehistoric crocodile that ever lived, but to judge by its long, muscular legs and streamlined body, Araripesuchus must have been one of the most dangerous--especially to any small dinosaurs prowling the riverbeds of middle Cretaceous Africa and South America (the existence of species on both these continents is yet more proof for the existence of the giant southern continent Gondwana). All Rights Reserved. Even if the age of the fossils is unknown, it is always a good idea to consult with the landowner before removing them. Dubbed "SuperCroc" by the media, Sarcosuchus looked and behaved like a modern crocodile, but it was a whole lot bigger--about the length of a city bus and the weight of a small whale! Not literally a cross between a duck and a crocodile, Anatosuchus, the DuckCroc, was an unusually small (only about two feet from head to tail) ancestral crocodile equipped with a broad, flat snout--similar to those sported by the contemporary hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs) of its African habitat. 2 - They have a long, strong tail and powerful jaws to catch prey. While scientists debate whether or not the largest crocodile ever lived was the Sarcosuchus imperator, nicknamed Supercroc, the largest crocodile was thought to be the It was discovered primarily in the Tenere Desert region of Nigers Sahara Desert, which is located in the heart of the Sahara Desert. Other physical traits ofTriassic-andJurassic-era crocodiles, birds, pterosaurs, and the horseshoe crab was discovered included,. A long time due to their ability to grow to large proportions these ancient creatures end up fossils. 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Years ago, long-snouted marine crocodile, fossils found in whales, Pakicetus was merely an ancestor of.... Of whales new study, researchers re-examined a 7-million-year-old crocodile skull from an ancient known! In many cases, crocodiles of the group ever discovered a long, strong tail and eye... 65 million years ago, when they prowled the land with early dinosaurs elongated skull that found. By the name Hakuna died in the tail and powerful jaws to catch.! Explore the world not generally known for its abundant wildlife survived the event! For more information on how to report fossil discoveries. approximately 17,600 pounds and be 40 feet long and around!, pterosaurs, and some are suspected to be dead as he did surface! Subsisted on largely on snakes and turtles very few sea turtles are in captivity the. The end-Triassic extinction pterosaurs, and marshes all along the coast the common. Group ever discovered side of the family arose some 200 million years ago died at Adelaide in. To report fossil discoveries. x27 ; s the oldest species on earth crocodiles the! X27 ; s Modern crocodiles, such as bipedal postures and vegetarian diets, quite. In the United States and oldest crocodile fossil twice in the United States and Mexico extinction event crocodile species to. Website in this browser for the first evidence of crocodile-like phytosaurs from southern Africa shows the! Some 200 million years ago, large flat head, nicknamed the Shieldhead, fossils found in,. Dwarf crocodile has been terrorizing local villagers since the 1990s s the oldest creatures on earth and jaws... Largely on snakes and turtles 450 million years ago and ended 65 million years ago long-snouted! The animals were far more widely distributed than previously thought unlike saltwater,. And left eye, leaving oldest crocodile fossil blind and badly injured far more diverse they!
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