All articles tagged with #crocodiles
Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles, has been approved as the 2032 Olympic rowing and canoe sprint venue after a technical assessment deemed it capable of fair competition, though safety and fairness concerns about crocodiles and river currents sparked debate; a crocodile safety plan governs regatta procedures and contingency plans remain, with a final design assessment still pending.
A new study of 81 archosaur fossils indicates crocodile ancestors were warm-blooded as recently as 66 million years ago before evolving back to cold-blooded, energy-saving metabolism that aided aquatic ambushes and helped them survive the dinosaur extinction.
New research suggests both crocodile and dinosaur–bird lineages began warm-blooded; modern crocodiles retain a warm-blooded‑like heart but low blood flow, implying their ancestors were warm-blooded. The crocodile lineage then reverted to cold-blooded metabolism around 66 million years ago to enable long breath-holds as aquatic ambush predators, while birds remained warm-blooded and flight-capable—rewriting the deep evolutionary story of archosaurs.
Researchers used CT scans to examine 43 crocodilian species (both living and extinct) and found that the brains and inner-ear structures have changed very little over about 100 million years, suggesting an exceptionally effective brain design that helped these reptiles endure climate shifts and mass extinctions.
Israel's Environment Minister reclassified Nile crocodiles as a specially managed wild animal, enabling a proposal to build a detention facility for Palestinians encircled by crocodiles. The decree drew opposition from the Environment Ministry's legal adviser, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and environmental groups who said it lacks a legal basis and risks animal welfare and public safety, though security minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised the plan as a deterrent.
Scientists describe Crocodylus lucivenator ('Lucy’s Hunter'), a 12–15 ft (3.7–4.6 m) crocodile from Ethiopia’s Hadar Formation, as the era’s largest predator around 3.4–3 million years ago and a likely hunter of Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy), with a distinctive mid-snout hump and ambush-style hunting across Hadar’s varied landscapes.
South Africa’s police captain Johan Potgieter was lowered from a helicopter into the crocodile-infested Komati River to recover the body of a businessman swept away by floods; after police shot a suspect crocodile, the team tied it and Potgieter found remains inside, with DNA tests to confirm identity. The operation, deemed highly dangerous, aimed to give the family closure.
Rescuers in flood‑ravaged South Africa recovered the remains of Gabriel Batista, 59, from inside a swollen 15‑foot crocodile caught in the Komati River; the giant animal—over 1,000 pounds—was killed and dissected to reveal body parts and a ring, while six pairs of shoes were found in its stomach as DNA testing continues and investigators pursue missing‑person links.
Massive floods across Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa have killed more than 100 people and displaced about 400,000, with crocodiles washed into towns; Mozambique’s floods are among the worst since 2000, farmland and livestock losses mount, cholera and other waterborne diseases threaten camps, and funding for relief and infrastructure repair remains slow.
An American influencer, Mike Holston, is under investigation in Queensland, Australia, for filming himself wrestling wild crocodiles, an activity deemed extremely dangerous and illegal, prompting outrage and potential fines from authorities.
Bob Irwin condemns reckless social media influencers like Mike Holston for dangerous crocodile interactions, calling for stricter enforcement of wildlife laws and potential deportation, amid ongoing investigations and concerns over wildlife safety and legal compliance in Australia.
Israel culled 200 crocodiles from an abandoned farm in the West Bank due to cannibalism and safety concerns, citing poor conditions and escape risks, amid controversy over animal rights and management practices.
A study by researchers at the University of Geneva has uncovered that the irregular head scales of crocodiles are formed through compressive mechanical instabilities rather than tensile stress. This process occurs during embryonic development, where the skin grows faster than the bone beneath it, leading to the formation of polygonal scales. The findings, published in Nature, suggest that variations in head-scale patterns among crocodilians may be due to evolutionary differences in embryonic skin growth.
Researchers have discovered that the irregular scales on crocodile heads form through a mechanical process rather than genetic control. Unlike typical scale formation, which is gene-driven, the scales on crocodile heads arise because the skin grows faster than the underlying tissues, causing it to fold and create irregular patterns. This finding, published in Nature, was supported by experiments with Nile crocodile embryos and computer simulations, highlighting the role of skin growth rate and material properties in scale patterning.
Crocodilians, including crocodiles, gharials, alligators, and caimans, have survived for over 200 million years due to a combination of anatomical and behavioral adaptations. Their almost impenetrable body armor, powerful antioxidants in their blood, and ability to remain still for long periods contribute to their resilience. These survival tactics have drawn the attention of researchers for potential applications in treating human diseases, showcasing how nature's resilience can inform and transform our approach to health challenges.