Winton Formation, Australia, 92 Million Years Ago

In the central west of Queensland lies what is now the heart of the Australian Outback. This land is widely known for the vast, dry landscape that permeates much of the continent. The treeless rocky deserts stretch for two million square miles and are blanketed in extreme heat reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although the world of the Late Cretaceous is similarly hot, this part of the future outback has yet to attain such high temperatures. Currently, the area is more humid with a climate ranging from 77 to 86 degrees. Additionally, this land is much wetter, having a massive river that exceeds the size of the modern Mississippi. With no ice caps at this time, it led to much more water trickling into dry land, creating moist, wetland environments in this greenhouse world.

This change from the scorching outback of the modern day has also resulted in more abundant and varied plant life, much of it adapted for this boggy landscape. Taller plant life towers above all else in the form of the many conifers, ginkgoes, and tree ferns. Tall araucaria trees are present as well, resembling the modern kauri and Wollemi pines that are endemic to modern Australia.

On the ground, lower vegetation thrives, primarily consisting of ferns, cycads, horsetails, and mushrooms. Moss and liverworts also grow on the dirt ground of this extensive wetland, often even clinging onto the trunks of trees. Grass has yet to evolve, but there are grass-like angiosperms called monocots littering the ground. Additionally, some of the earliest flowers are present, but are entirely white as opposed to the plethora of other colors they'd come in millions of years later.

Around the glimmering, daylit waters of this land and its plant life are a cornucopia of smaller organisms. Insects thrive in the form of dragonflies and crickets, their buzzing and chirping permeating the air. These often fall victim to a type of ancient monitor lizard-like reptile, one that prowls across the land and swims through the freshwater. Even the murky depths are home to countless ray-finned fish and lungfish. Residents in both parts of this moistened land are several frogs. When they're not adding to the ambiance with their croaks and ribbits, they're darting their tongues at any insect they find before swallowing them.

Unlike everything else in this land, one local has taken residence below ground. Much of its time is spent in small burrows under rocks, logs, and trees, laced in pure white silk. These are home to ancient funnel-web spiders. Using trip lines that radiate from these tunnels, they're able to detect the vibrations of the world around them. This alerts the spiders not only to prey, but also to incoming predators and potential mates.

Even so, there is much more of the world around them that the spiders are made aware of from their underground lairs. This primarily comes in the form of animals much larger than themselves: the dinosaurs.

One common species is Fostoria, a 16-foot-long, bipedal herbivore. They have long narrow bodies supported by a pair of long, muscular yet gracile legs. Each one ends in three forward-point toes tipped with sharp claws. Forelimbs are present as well, being much shorter, but relatively strong. Three functional fingers grow from these arms along with a stubby thumb spike. A long, stiff tail helps to counterbalance their overall form, starting thick at the base but tapering to a thinner end. The heads are relatively small with a long, narrow snout, two large eyes, a wide, flattened beak, and a mouth full of rounded, leaf-shaped teeth. Their skin is primarily a yellowish sheen green with copper spots mottled all over their bodies and a solid gray underbelly.

Although Fostoria is the more common animal here, their presence is not nearly as felt as another one that roams here. Its passing footsteps create thunderous thuds, vibrations from which if close enough, set off every trip line at a spider's den. The creaking groans of this giant even reverberate for miles around it.

They are the long-necked goliaths of this land, Australotitan. Nearing 100 feet from head to tail and weighing over 81 tons, they're easily the largest animal to ever roam the continent of Australia. Such stature also puts them among the largest animals on earth, only being outsized by a few of their relatives in South America.

As members of the sauropod clade, their wide, robust bodies are supported by four thick, column-like legs ending in broad rounded feet. A long, thick, narrowing tail stretches out from their rears, acting to counterbalance their gigantic forms. Relatively small, elongated heads rest at the end of extremely lengthy necks. These narrow faces have two large, expressive eyes and a mouth full of spoon-shaped teeth. The skin of these giants is primarily an earthy ochre with diagonal streaks of dark, brownish-green mottled in and an entirely tan underbelly.

As the largest animals here, Australotitans are easily able to reach the trees on which they feed. Their days are primarily spent grazing from this higher vegetation, stripping entire branches before swallowing the greenery whole. In between, they trudge to the lakes and rivers, hydrate themselves with water, and swallow up stones to grind up plant matter in their stomachs.

These giants and the smaller Fostoria aren't the only ones that regularly visit these bodies of water. Another type of animal frequently relies on this area for sustenance. It comes not from across the land but from the sky.

Flying above the freshwater is the occasional Ferrodraco. Not only are they Australian members of the pterosaur order of flying reptiles, but they're also the most complete species from this group to be found on the continent. In shape, their bodies are typical of what's seen on other pterosaurs, being lightweight with membranous wings connecting their four limbs. They're also fairly large with wingspans reaching up to 13 feet. Their long, narrow heads reach up to 20 inches, tapering to a beak lined with sharp, interlocking teeth. At the end of each of their jaws are thin, bony crests with a rounded, triangular shape. For the females, these structures are bright yellow like the rest of their snout. Meanwhile, the males stand out with crests colored in a bright mix of orange and red. The bodies and wings flyers are coated in russet brown, hair-like pycnofibers while their underside is a light gray.

Ferrodracos have a different purpose here than dinosaurs like Fostoria and Australotitan. Rather than seeking nourishment from plant matter, these pterosaurs have come here to feed on the many fish that swim within the freshwater. One by one, they divebomb through the surface, exiting with prey in their jaws. This feeding is restricted to the deeper parts of the river as diving can risk impacting the riverbed.

Females will often carry their bounty with them, all the way to their nests to feed their young upon hatching. Others, such as one younger male with duller crest colors, pick a small patch of land or log in the middle of the water to start feasting on their prize. Doing so, however, puts them in the line of sight of a different kind of hunter.

The waters of these wetlands aren't without their dangers. Modern crocodiles have yet to evolve in Australia, but an ancient relative is plentiful here in the form of Confractosuchus. Much of its appearance is very akin to its modern counterparts, including its thick body covered in tough, bony scutes. This natural armor is particularly thick along its back, arranged in lengthy, interlocking rows from the rear of the skull to its long, muscular, laterally flattened tail. While its limbs aren't particularly long, they're quite robust and end in web feet. Such adaptations aid its ability to effectively swim through the waters of its environment. Its head is broad and flat, narrowing to a somewhat pointed snout with strong jaws full of sharp, conical teeth. Two eyes rest highly elevated on its head, giving it the ability to see above the surface when its body is mostly submerged. Scaly eyelids give it a piercing predatory gaze. Its scaly skin and body armor are primarily grayish, taupe brown while its throat and underside are tan.

The dully-colored Ferrodraco has caught the eye of a male Confractosuchus named Koa. At 8 feet long, he's just shy of the size attained by larger, fully-grown adults. From the murky, brown algae-ridden bottom of the lake, he stares at the unsuspecting pterosaur, preparing to strike. Thanks to a combination of a reduced heart rate, slower metabolism, and conserved energy, this croc has been able to stay underwater for over an hour. Such an incredible ability to deprive himself of air for so long allows him the patience needed for a hunt like this.

But that's about to change for this semi-aquatic hunter. Koa's legs start to shift, getting ready to thrust him off the lakebed. Similarly, the end of his tail moves sideways, digging itself into the murky bottom. In the blink of an eye, his statue-like stillness turns into a rapid dart through the water. With a massive splash and a hiss, Koa's head bursts through the surface. He clasps his jaws at the Ferrodraco, only for it to jump back at the last minute. Quickly, the pterosaur flies out of reach of the croc, passing across the backdrop of the golden sun.

Just like many hunts in the wild, Koa's attempt has failed. However, it's not food he'll need to worry about. Due to the way he stores and conserves his energy, Confractosuchus like him can go weeks without eating, depending on the size of a given meal.

Instead, Koa has other more pressing matters of concern. With the arrival of spring comes the breeding season for Confractosuchus. To impress and attain a mate, he'll need to bulk up on whatever food he can get.

Worse yet, he's not the only male to reside in these waters. This part of the lake is a boundary, lying at the edge of another hunter's territory. A hunter that's not far away.

Where freshwater meets dry land, dozens of Fostoria have gathered to drink. Among them are a few small juveniles, only 3 feet in length. On top of their more diminutive size, their heads are more rounded than the adults and their eyes are proportionately larger. Many of them stick closer to their mothers for security. However, one female has started drinking all by herself, nearly 10 feet from any of her full-grown counterparts.

Doing so has unwittingly cost her greatly. Suddenly, another Confractosuchus springs from the water and toward the juvenile Fostoria. She tries to spring away at the last minute but instead finds herself trapped in the croc's jaws. The youngster lets out a few high-pitched cries as she attempts to squirm free of the predator's grip. These efforts are in vain as the Confractosuchus retreats to the water with prey in the mouth. Her fate is sealed by an erupting cloud of crimson as the hunter bites onto its prize. All the adult Fostoria can do is retreat to avoid becoming prey themselves.

With the herd having left, the culprit of the kill surfaces, swallowing what's left of the unlucky juvenile. This is Daku, another male Confractosuchus. He's larger than Koa at nearly 10 feet in length. It's also at this one lake where the territory of both of these crocs intersects, often causing fights between the two if they're in close enough proximity.

Fortunately for Koa, he's learned to keep his distance from Daku whenever he's on the hunt. But even from tens of feet away, the larger male still growls at his smaller rival. Immediately, Koa starts to swim away. He already bears the scars of past fights on his face and body. Thus, he'd be wise to avoid another confrontation. Even then, his instincts are guiding him elsewhere.

***

Hours have passed since Koa's last attempt at a hunt. In that time, mid-day has begun to shift into the start of dusk. All of the land has transformed into a silhouette against the backdrop of a graying sky and descending sun. A shift in temperatures at this time has also caused the rise of fog from the waters of the wetlands, making them the only thing visible at the lakes and streams outside of the reflected heavens. Sounds of frogs and crickets are still heard at this time, even being much more prevalent despite the dissipation of daylight.

At the surface, Koa can be seen floating across, his eyes and snout peering above while the rest of his body remains submerged. Through the connected streams, he's managed to reach one particular lake, one much larger than his usual territory. There's no dry land in the middle, only a huge expanse of water.

Koa is also not alone here. Many other males have arrived here too, long before the young male. Females are present as well, yet not as numerous as the males. It's here where an important part of the life of a Confractosuchus will take place: mating.

As with any ritual meant to attract the opposite sex, it all starts with a display. The males begin by contorting their bodies, making it so that only their heads and the tips of their tails are visible above the water. Meanwhile, their backs remain positioned just below the surface. Then, they begin to expand their throats and bellow into the air, just one of a few shows of dominance. This leads to the most dramatic phase of their display. These growls and gurgles appear to become silent but are actually transforming into a low hum inaudible to human ears. While this occurs, their upper backs rapidly pound onto the water's surface like a piston. This causes droplets of water to rapidly rise around the bodies of the male Confractosuchus, appearing to dance. It's by doing this that the crocs compete for the attention of would-be mates. The larger and more dazzling the display, the better their chances of attracting a mate.

Now that Koa has arrived, it's his turn to attempt these bellows. He gets into position and begins rumbling above the water. As his sounds travel through the lake, particles of water rapidly bounce around his body. Despite his efforts, his aquatic display isn't able to match the size of the other males around. Again, he bellows but is barely noticeable among the calls of larger, fitter males.

So, Koa takes a different approach. He paddles through the water to find a more vacant spot. If he's alone and further away, he'll have less of a chance of his display and calls being ignored.

At several moments, the young male stops on his trip to perform a display. Each time he fails to garner the attention of a female, even the ones that immediately pass by him. His repeated attempts take him all around the lake.

During this swim about the lake, he accidentally bumps his tail against the body of another, larger male. Promptly, the rival lets out a loud hiss as it splashes the water, his mouth gaping widely. In response, Koa opens up his jaws as he moves on to a different part of the lake.

Finally, Koa finds a clear spot of freshwater, one not crowded by rival males. As he does, a few new females arrive, including one heading his way. This male's timing couldn't have been better.

Immediately, Koa begins bellowing. The nearest female begins to float near him, assessing his sounds and water display. With every passing second, his display persists.

Despite his perseverance, the female rejects him by swimming away. Even 10s of feet away from the main group of males, the chambered grumbles of larger, stronger suitors lure her like metal to a magnet. For Koa, this also means another failure.

However, these setbacks don't deter this young male from persisting. Again and again, he positions himself and calls out, each attempt sounding lower. Additionally, the dancing droplets around him grow both in size and in numbers. Minutes of this exhibition pass despite no arriving females.

But the hapless young male's attempts are soon rewarded. Another female, Bindi, drifts toward Koa. She's roughly the same age as him and thus the same size.

Like with the other females he's encountered before, Koa doesn't hesitate to show off. Just as he did many times before, the young male bends his body and expands his throat before producing his bellows and water dances. As the other females did before, Bindi asses him by circling him, but her's is different from the others. This time, she draws closer to Koa during his display. She also compliments Koa's sounds with low ones of her own. To the male, it's a welcome change as this lets him know that his efforts may be working.

Bindi's approach only ceases as she rubs her head against Koa's. This soothing, gentle gesture is the ultimate sign that she's accepting him. Success is finally at hand.

But the male's troubles aren't over. Suddenly, Koa pauses in response to a loud hiss, one he's become all too familiar with. He jerks his body around to find Daku flowing towards the would-be-mates. The two rival Confractosuchus gape their mouths at each other as the larger of the two approaches.

Both males have the desire to mate with Bindi, but only one will earn the chance to do so. Determining who will have the honor won't be decided by their bellowing. Now it will be a trial by combat.

Daku is the first to strike, hitting the younger male with the bottom of his head. A splash erupts as Koa's head is shoved under the surface. Swiftly, he pops back up, loudly hissing as the two Confractosuchus start circling each other.

During this, the two rivals exchange tail slaps to the water around them. Even with how much bigger Daku's threat splashes are, Koa doesn't cease. Their growls also persist between each splash from their lengthy appendages.

Suddenly, Koa charges toward Daku. Their collision leads to them twisting their bodies as they wrestle with one another. Both Confractosuchus attempt to bite into the skull of the other with no success. Their grappling ends as the two swim away from each other and resort back to circling.

Next, it's Daku who charges his opponent. Koa attempts to move out of the way only to have his mouth caught in the tight grip of the larger male's jaws. Daku then starts spinning his body, causing his rival to do the same. This behavior is famously known as the "death roll."

Daku's twirling only ends as he lets go, making Koa's body hurl through the water. The young male appears lifeless as he starts to sink toward the bottom of the lake. His larger foe also begins to charge at him, ready to deal the final blow.

Daku's movements are quick, pushing him through the water in the blink of an eye. Despite this, Koa manages to awaken and narrowly dodge the larger male's charge. As he does, the younger Confractosuchus also bites onto the right forelimb of his adversary. Daku lets out a hiss as he tries to shake free from the youthful croc.

Both crocs are sent downward as this bigger male is pulled under the surface. Only their tails are seen above the water as they repeatedly create massive splashes. Before long, both Confractosuchus become obscure by a growing cloud of crimson.

From this, only one of the crocs emerges: Daku. As he does so, his head becomes raised, exposing his neck. This is not a pose of victory, but one of submission.

Following this, the true victor of the brawl peers his head above the water: Koa. While he does, he reveals the cost of his rival's failure. Inside this young male's jaws is the foot of a Confractosuchus.

As Daku swims away, a trail of scarlet follows him. It originates from an exposed wound on his right forelimb. The wound will heal, leaving Daku crippled with a permanent stump—a reminder of his defeat. The foot, however, will be lost forever as it becomes swallowed up by Daku's dominant enemy.

Although he now bears his scars in the form of gashes on his head, Koa has emerged as the victor. With the overthrown Daku now gone, the young male can now seize the chance that he's rightfully earned. To do so, he follows Bindi below the surface.

In the shadowy, sun-lit depths, the male and female Confractosuchus set the stage for the next half of their courtship ritual. It starts with both of them blowing bubbles through their noses, an expression of their mutual interest. Next, Koa swims on top of Bindi, all while stroking her with his back foot. He does so gently and carefully as exerting too much of his weight can risk breaking her bones or worse. Thankfully, his tender approach succeeds and the two finally join cloacas.

The act is brief, but the impregnation is successful. With a new generation gestating inside her, Bindi swims off. Like modern crocodilians, the job of raising young Confractosuchus is solely a motherly one and thus won't involve Koa.

In their time on earth, crocodilians and their ancient relatives like Confractosuchus have mastered their role as semi-aquatic ambush hunters. Though a success that lasts to the modern day doesn't come without its struggles, in which Koa has emerged triumphant against the odds. His species may not survive past the end of the Cretaceous, but for now, he'll be able to rest easy knowing that his legacy will live on in a new wave of lurkers in the wetlands.