Gaowangjie crocodile newts are considered “medium-sized,” reaching over 5 inches in length, the study said. They have “rough”-textured skin, “blunt” snouts and “large” eyes.

In a rice field of central China, some “large”-eyed creatures gathered for mating season. Something about the “crocodile”-like animals caught the attention of nearby scientists — and for good reason.

The saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, is the largest living reptile on Earth, and it rules the waters from northern Australia to Southeast Asia. These massive reptiles are often called ...