Mekosuchine crocodiles

The Mekosuchines were an unusual group. An early species, from Riversleigh Queensland, called the Ridge-headed Crocodile (Trilophosuchus rackhami), was a short snouted large eyed species that has been nicknamed the 'drop croc' as it is theorised it may have attacked prey by climbing trees and dropping on them. Another mekosuchine crocodile fossil has been found in Miocene deposits from New Zealand. One genera, Mekosuchus, managed to spread to the islands of the Pacific; it is believed to have island-hopped across the Coral Sea, moving first to a now submerged island known as Greater Chesterfield Island, then New Caledonia and onwards. Some scientists theorise fossils may eventually be found on the islands of Tonga and Samoa.

The mekosuchines became extinct in Australia after the arrival of crocodiles from the genus Crocodylus, today represented by the Saltwater Crocodile. The group survived on Vanuatu and New Caledonia until the arrival of people, who are presumed to have driven them to extinction.