SuperCroc is unleashed as Stockland partners with the Australian Museum

Stockland and the Australian Museum have teamed up once again, this time to tour a life-sized, one-of-a-kind model of the mighty prehistoric Sarcosuchus Imperator around NSW.

The SuperCroc on Tour exhibit will first open at Stockland Merrylands on Tuesday 8th May 2018, before travelling to Stockland shopping centres at Shellharbour, Wetherill Park and Green Hills.

SuperCroc is the world’s first anatomically correct model of a Sarcosuchus Imperator and was built in collaboration with a team of palaeontologists and scientists for the National Geographic documentary, SuperCroc.

The Sarcosuchus Imperator was one of the all-time largest crocodilians to have ever roamed the earth, ranging between 11-12 metres in length and weighing approximately 8 tonnes – about as heavy as a fully grown male elephant!

Following the documentary, National Geographic gifted SuperCroc to the Australian Museum where it has been exhibited alongside the museum’s impressive collection of ancient fossils.

Brooke Lee, National Retail and Trade Marketing Manager at Stockland, said: “We’re thrilled to work with the Australian Museum to bring such a fantastic educational entertainment offering to our shopping centre customers.

“With his fascinating history and impressive size we know SuperCroc will be a favourite for young and old alike and are excited to give shoppers a chance to get up close and personal with this gigantic prehistoric predator.”

Kim McKay AO, Director and CEO, Australian Museum, said: “Visitors to Stockland shopping centres are certainly in for a treat when they encounter SuperCroc, the 11m long ancient African monster which is still clearly bigger than any croc known to have snapped its jaws in Australia.

“It is great to be working with Stockland giving communities outside of central Sydney the opportunity to see this prehistoric beast and learn about its habitat and life dating from 110 million years ago.”

Participating Stockland centres will also run a number of fun and educational activities for kids to enjoy in conjunction with the SuperCroc tour. Visitors at each centre will also have the chance win a family trip for four to the Northern Territory for a real life crocodile experience.

Notes to editor

SuperCroc will be toured to Stockland Merrylands, Stockland Shellharbour, Stockland Wetherill Park and Stockland Green Hills for shoppers to enjoy.

About Sarcosuchus Imperator

Alive during the early to late Cretaceous period, this fascinating predator ruled over fresh water environments approximately 65.5 million years ago and is a distant ancestor of today’s modern crocodiles, alligators, gharials and caimans.

With its elongated snout, over 130 bone crushing teeth and a powerful tail designed to cut through water at great speed, the Sarcosuchus Imperator would ambush and prey on anything that entered the water, from fish to dinosaurs.

SuperCroc vital stats

Name: Sarcosuchus imperator (meaning “flesh crocodile emperor”)

Alias: SuperCroc

Lived: Early – Late Cretaceous period (approx. 112 – 65.5 million years ago)

Regions: Fossils have been found in West Africa (including central Niger) and Brazil, South America

Habitat: Freshwater environments

Likes to eat: Pretty much anything it can ambush; from fish to dinosaurs!

First discovered: 1946 in the Sahara Desert

Size: One of the all-time largest crocodilians at 11 – 12 metres in length when fully grown. By comparison, a modern saltwater crocodile is only about half the size at 6.8 metres.

Weight: 8 tonnes (comparative to an adult male elephant)