How Crocodiles Survived the Asteroid That Killed the Dinosaurs
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A new study published in Science Advances reveals the secret to crocodiles' success after the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. According to researchers from University College London, the key factors were location, climate adaptability, and the ability to move to suitable habitats. Examining over 7,000 fossils and records of 400 species from the pseudosuchia group, the team compared them to computer models simulating Earth's changing climate over the past 245 million years.
Crocodiles thrived in warmer climates, such as Europe and Antarctica, during periods when Earth was 18 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. After a period of global cooling, they retreated to the tropics, where they continue to thrive today. The researchers also analyzed the impact of simulated chilly temperatures resulting from sunlight-blocking dust clouds and found that crocodiles could still prosper in equatorial regions, but temperatures 15 percent cooler proved too cold for the reptiles.
Study author Philip Mannion emphasized that crocodiles’ ability to adapt to changing climates by moving to suitable habitats could have implications for species today, as the loss of suitable areas to roads, farms, and cities is making it harder for them to survive. Despite their survival during the mass extinction, crocodiles did not escape unscathed, as there are relatively few species left compared to the panoply of pseudosuchian diversity that once existed.
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