Crocodilian Species Named after CSU’s Schwimmer

August 6, 2020

A newly named species of crocodilian will now bear the name of Columbus State University Geology Professor Dr. David Schwimmer.

Schwimmer has published numerous journal articles, presented at conferences, and written a 2002 book on the topic of giant North American, Cretaceous crocodilian genus, Deinosuchus. Also known as “terror crocodiles,” the extinct creatures were dinosaur-eating, school bus-sized relatives to modern alligators, which walked the Earth 82 million to 73 million years ago.

After a group of paleontologists made a systematic review of Deinosuchus specimens from the literature, along with information from some newly discovered fossils, and revised the species-level systematics for the organism, they included a new species - Deinosuchus schwimmeri. In their article, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, they explain that the species is named after Schwimmer for “his tireless work on the late Cretaceous paleontology of the Southeast and Eastern Seaboard, U.S.A."

“I really appreciate the honor, especially since it's been one of my major studies,” said Schwimmer. “Also, who doesn't love a gigantic beast named after them?”

The article, which unveils the new species, can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2020.1767638.