Scientifically Accurate 31 Foot Terror Croc Replica Debuts Following Decades of Research by Columbus State Paleontologist

First accurate life-size replica of Deinosuchus schwimmeri debuts in Georgia. Learn how Dr. David Schwimmer brought this 31-foot apex predator back to life.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 10:34 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Columbus State University

Bringing a Cretaceous Apex Predator to Life

A prehistoric giant that once terrorized the waterways of North America has been reconstructed in unprecedented detail. Dr. David Schwimmer, a geology professor at Columbus State University and a global authority on the genus Deinosuchus, has collaborated with paleontological experts to produce the world's first scientifically accurate, fully mounted skeleton replica of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. This massive relative of modern alligators ruled the southeastern United States approximately 75 to 83 million years ago, occupying a dominant position at the top of the food chain.

The Scale of a Dinosaur-Killer

Stretching to a length of 31 feet, Deinosuchus schwimmeri was roughly the size of a modern school bus. The predator’s reputation as a "terror croc" is well-earned, as fossil evidence suggests it routinely preyed on dinosaurs. The new life-size replica, now on permanent display at the Tellus Science Museum in Georgia, offers a rare opportunity for the public to grasp the true physical magnitude of an animal that thrived during the Late Cretaceous epoch. The project is the result of a two-year partnership between Dr. Schwimmer and Triebold Paleontology Inc., utilizing cutting-edge reconstruction techniques.

Naming a Species After Forty Years of Fieldwork

The predator’s name serves as a tribute to Dr. Schwimmer’s four decades of tireless fossil hunting and analysis across Alabama, Georgia, and Texas. In 2020, the species was officially named Deinosuchus schwimmeri in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, recognizing his extensive contributions to the study of the Eastern Seaboard’s prehistoric life. His work has been supported by organizations including National Geographic, and his discoveries are now featured in premier institutions such as the Smithsonian and the American Museum of Natural History.