Trophic interactions between larger crocodylians and giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll, Western Indian Ocean, during the Late Pleistocene

A new analysis of Late Pleistocene fossils from Aldabra Atoll reveals evidence of predator-prey interactions between giant tortoises and larger crocodilians, suggesting that these apex predators likely attacked or scavenged on the tortoises. Researchers examined fossilized bones showing bite marks, indicating direct interaction, while also noting that recently discovered crocodilian remains were significantly larger than previously known species, implying the presence of an even bigger predator in the ecosystem. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the atoll's prehistoric dynamics and provides insights into the trophic relationships of Aldabra during a critical period of its evolutionary history.

Scheyer, T. M., Delfino, M., Klein, N., Bunbury, N., Fleischer-Dogley, F., & Hansen, D. M. (2018). Trophic interactions between larger crocodylians and giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll, Western Indian Ocean, during the Late Pleistocene. Royal Society Open Science, 5(1), 171800. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171800