Crocodiles survived the asteroid attack that wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago due to the “rapid evolution” that saw animals flourish on land and in the oceans.
- Experts studied more than 200 crocodile skulls and jaws and their extinct species
- Some groups of extinct crocodiles evolved very rapidly over millions of years
- Today’s crocodiles and alligators have evolved steadily over the past 80 million years
It’s a mystery that baffles scientists for years: why did crocodiles survive the asteroid attack that wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago?
Now, researchers believe they can have the answer, and it all boils down to proper rapid evolution.
In a new study, scientists suggest that crocodiles underwent rapid evolution that meant creatures could flourish on land and in the oceans.
Dr. Stephanie Pierce, an associate professor of organic biology and evolution at Harvard University, said: “Ancient crocodiles came in a variety of shapes. They were adapted to running on land, swimming in water, biting. fish and even chew plants.
“Our study shows that these very different life forms evolved incredibly quickly, allowing extinct crocodiles to thrive quickly and dominate new ecological niches for many millions of years.”
In a new study, scientists suggest that crocodiles underwent rapid evolution that meant creatures could flourish on land and in the oceans. In the picture is a modern crocodile
In the study, researchers at the University of Bristol and Harvard University studied more than 200 crocodile skulls and jaws and their extinct species, spanning 230 million years.
The team analyzed how the shape of the skulls and jaws varied between species and studied how quickly groups of crocodiles changed over time.
Their findings suggest that some groups of extinct crocodiles, including dolphin-like talatosucians and earth-dwelling notosucians, evolved very rapidly over millions of years.
These species also underwent enormous changes in their skulls and jaws, sometimes almost resembling mammals.
And while today’s crocodiles, alligators, and gharials are often known as “living fossils,” researchers suggest that this is not the case and that there is no “evidence of a slowdown in their evolution.”
Instead, the team believes that today’s crocodiles, alligators and gharials have evolved steadily over the past 80 million years.
Dr Tom Stubbs, who led the study, said: “Crocodiles and their ancestors are an amazing group to understand the rise and fall of biodiversity.
A fossil of a crocodile that inhabits the land of the Cretaceous. Notosucians had various diets, including insect feeders and plants
This tiny skull belonged to an early crocodile ancestor who lived on land and had a diverse diet.
“There are only 26 species of crocodiles around today, most of them look very similar. However, there are hundreds of fossil species with spectacular variations, mostly in their feeding apparatus.
Although scientists have long believed that dramatic changes in habitat and diet can trigger rapid evolution, this is the first time it has been shown in crocodiles.
Professor Micahel Benton, who also worked on the study, said: “It is not clear why modern crocodiles are so limited in their adaptations.
Although scientists have long believed that dramatic changes in habitat and diet can trigger rapid evolution, this is the first time it has been shown in crocodiles. The image shows an extinct Jurassic sea crocodile
“If we only had living species, we could argue that they are limited in their lifestyles because of their cold blood or their anatomy.
However, the fossil record shows its incredible capabilities, including a large number of species in the oceans and land.
“Maybe they only did well when the world’s climates were warmer than they are today.”
KILLING DINOSAURS: HOW A CITY-SIZED ASTEROID DELETES 75 PERCENT OF ALL ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES
About 65 million years ago, non-avian dinosaurs became extinct and more than half of the world’s species were destroyed.
This mass extinction paved the way for the rise of mammals and the appearance of humans.
The asteroid Chicxulub is often cited as a potential cause of Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction.
The asteroid crashed into a shallow sea in present-day Gulf of Mexico.
The collision released a huge cloud of dust and soot that triggered global climate change and wiped out 75% of all animal and plant species.
Researchers say the soot needed for a global catastrophe could only come from a direct impact on shallow-water rocks around Mexico, especially rich in hydrocarbons.
Ten hours after the impact, a massive tsunami hit the Gulf Coast, experts say.
About 65 million years ago, non-avian dinosaurs were wiped out and more than half of the world’s species were destroyed. The asteroid Chicxulub is often cited as a potential cause of Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction (stock image)
This caused earthquakes and landslides in areas as far as Argentina.
But while the waves and eruptions were, the creatures living at the time not only suffered the waves, but the heat was much worse.
While investigating the event, investigators found small particles of rock and other debris that were fired into the air when the asteroid crashed.
These small particles called spherules covered the planet with a thick layer of soot.
Experts say that losing sunlight caused a complete collapse of the aquatic system.
This is because the phytoplankton base would have been removed from almost all aquatic food chains.
It is believed that the more than 180 million years of evolution that brought the world to the point of the Cretaceous were destroyed in less than the life of a Tyrannosaurus rex, which is about 20 to 30 years old.