Today’s birds evolved from dinosaurs. Humans evolved from fish. But crocodiles? They were built to last from the beginning.
New research by British scientists at the University of Bristol adds evidence that the powerful crocodile has existed largely unchanged for 200 million years, as it has survived dinosaurs and countless other species of plants and animals that go be razed by an asteroid that burst into the Yucatan Peninsula. 66 million years ago.
Their environmental versatility and physical efficiency have allowed them to survive mass extinction and two glacial ages.
“‘ Crocodiles had a lifestyle versatile enough to adapt to the huge environmental changes that have occurred since the dinosaurs were there, ”said the study’s lead author, Max Stockdale. “This could be one of the explanations why crocodiles survived the impact of meteorites at the end of the Cretaceous period, in which dinosaurs died.”
Unlike most animals, crocodiles thrive in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, with the ability to hold their breath for up to an hour. They do best in warm conditions, as the cold-blooded reptile depends on external factors for thermoregulation, and can survive months or even years without food, drawing energy from the sun and letting itself down as they plan their next meal.
Their bodies are sturdy and sturdy, built to withstand major injuries. In fact, it is not uncommon for someone to lose their legs in a battle for territory and then go on to live a long life of between 70 and 100 years.
Crocodiles have undergone evolutionary changes, but their transformation has taken place as a “stop-start” pattern, in which the broad trace changes of the species occurred in outbreaks during more favorable ecological conditions, according to new research. published in Nature Communications Biology.
“It’s fascinating to see how such an intricate relationship exists between the Earth and the living things we share it with,” Stockdale said.
For example, the warm climate of the time of the dinosaurs was the perfect setting for the evolution of various types of crocodiles: giant crickets, vegetarian gorges, and snake-type marine gorse, to name a few. These specialized versions ultimately gave way to today’s more rational species, which is why they have been dubbed “final survivors.”