Stroke in crocodile or crocodile can feel as if to look back in history the era of dinosaurs. Their ancestors have survived collective extinction for 230 million years, and scientists have discovered a new secret to their evolutionary success and longevity. Prehistoric effects are noticeably flexible in all of what they eat and where they get. The results described in a The study was published on April 16 in the magazine Cases.
However, crocodiles continued
In its 4.5 billion -year -old history, the Earth underwent five collective extinction, and perhaps in the sixth era of mass death. Crocodylians today are the opponents of the remaining alive in Reports called crocodiles. The age of this lineage is about 230 million years, and includes modern crocodiles, crocodiles, maral and their many extinct relatives.
“Many of the groups were closely related to crocodiles were more diverse and more abundant, and they showed different ecology, yet they all disappeared except for these few years alive today.” He said in a statement. “Endowment and survival are two aspects of the same currency. Through all collective extinction, some groups were able to continue and diversify. What can we learn by studying the deepest evolutionary patterns that these events convey?”
Live Crocodylians are the semi -square generals who flourish in spaces such as lakes, rivers and swamps, where they are waiting for the reassuring prey. They are the opposite of difficult eating. You will crocodylians will He eats Al -Sharghouf, crustaceans, or insects before graduation until fish, small deer, and even other crocodiles.
Determining the features that enhance survival during periods and times more stable than planetary disorders may help scientists and conservation specialists protect more types today. Mammals are usually considered the best collection for use to study the survival of comprehensive extinction, since we have a general diet that allows us to prosper in various habitats. However, crocodiles were ignored despite their skills.
After that, bananas go “
In this New studyThe team rebuilt the crocodile food environment to determine the characteristics that helped some groups continue and prosper through collective extinction. Crocodylomorphs survived the end extinction (about 201.4 million years) and the extinction of the peripheral mass (about 66 million years ago), killing all types of non -Avian dinosaurs.
“There is a risk of trying to extract conclusions of millions of years and apply it directly to memorization. We must be careful”, “in the study, the author participating in the study, the Secretary of Excavations at the Museum of Natural History in Utah and a professor at Utah University, He said in a statement. “If people study mammals and reptiles and find the same patterns regarding the survival of extinction, we may expect that the general diets may be better. This information helps us to predict, but it is unlikely that we are able to choose the individual species that will survive.”
[ Related: Say hello to the surprising crocodile relative Benggwigwishingasuchus eremicarminis.]
During the late Trias period (about 237 to 201.4 million years), a broader evolutionary group that includes early crocodiles and many other extinct genealments called Pseudosuchia governed the ground. The oldest crocodiles were small to average and were somewhat rare in their ecosystems. The meat that often ate small animals. In comparison, other Pseudosuchian groups dominated the Earth, had a wide range of environmental roles, and were diverse in both the body shape and size.
Once the final extinction is saved-none of the Sidoosyan survived. It seemed that the most excessive crocodile in Carnenene is dying. The public who resided in lands survived. The team assumes that this ability to eat almost anything was behind its success, while many other groups became extinct.
“Then, banana goes,” said mestrom. “Aquaculinotens, terrestrial public, hyper extensive ends, ground herbes – feverish vessels have developed a large number of environmental roles throughout the period of dinosaurs.”
However, something happened during the late Cretaceous period that caused the decrease in the numbers of crocodiles. Wells with the most diverse environment began to disappear, even the Earth’s generalists. By the comprehensive terminal event, most of the survivors were semi -distinctive public and one group of aquatic meat. All of every 26 Crocodylians are almost general.
Jack Rodgers
Teeth tell the story
To find out what was likely to eat these long reptiles, the team Analysis of fossilized teeth and skulls. For example, a small teeth jaw that resembles a knife indicates that the organism was likely to cut the meat and weigh a hole. The most mortar and bishop mouth indicates that an animal may have collapsed more vegetable tissues. The skull shape also shows how an animal moves its mouth, and provides another idea for eating habits.
They studied skulls 99 extinct types of crocodiles and 20 types of live crocodilesTo create a 230 million years of fossil data collection from evolutionary history. They compared it to a pre -created database of non -local local, including 89 mammals and 47 species of lizard.
As semi -ambush predators, Crocodylians today occupy similar environmental roles in a wide range of environments. They also have significantly flexible meals, which can serve as a suspension of its deep -volatile advanced past.
For endangered crocodylians such as Gary from the slopes of the Himalayas Mountains or Cuban crocodileYou may give them food flexibility an opportunity to continue in environmental conflicts today caused by climate change. The basic challenges of these endangered species are hunting by humans and habitat loss.
“When we see live crocodiles and crocodiles, instead of thinking about fierce monsters or expensive handbags, I hope that people will estimate more than 200 million years of development, and how they survived many tumultuous events in the history of the Earth,” Ermis said. “Crocodylians are equipped to survive many future changes – if we are ready to help maintain their habitats.”