crocodiles

Researchers have discovered the oldest known fragment of fossilized skin, over 21 million years older than previous findings, from an early Paleozoic reptile. The study highlights the skin’s resemblance to modern reptile skin and its importance in understanding the evolutionary transition to land. (Artist’s concept.) Credit: SciTechDaily.comA groundbreaking discovery reveals the oldest fossilized reptile skin, showing significant evolutionary features and offering a unique perspective on early terrestrial animal life.…

Researchers at the University of York have mapped the evolutionary history of crocodiles, revealing the impact of climate change, competition, and ecological factors on their current limited diversity, providing vital insights for conservation efforts. Credit: Jagged Fang designs Researchers have mapped the family tree of crocodiles and their extinct relatives to shed new light on why there are so few species of the giant reptiles living today. The research team, led by scientists at the University of York, mapped the…

In 1986, John Watson used Mudjala mangrove bark for pain relief after a crocodile attack. His practice caught the interest of Professor Ron Quinn from Griffith University, leading to a collaboration between the Nyikina Mangala people and the university. Their research, merging Traditional Knowledge with Western science, identified pain-relieving compounds in the bark.In 1986, John Watson’s finger was bitten off by a crocodile. A Nyikina Mangala man from the Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Community of the Kimberley, John…

The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. Stories of virgin births, where young are produced without fertilisation, have been told throughout history. Mars the ancient Roman god, Horus the ancient Egyptian god and Qi from ancient Chinese mythology were all born to virgins. But virgin births actually do happen in the natural world. The first evidence of a virgin birth in crocodiles has been reported in a captive American crocodile, …

For the first time, scientists have found evidence that female crocodiles can lay eggs without mating, using a strange reproductive strategy that may have its evolutionary roots in the age of the dinosaurs.In 2018, a lone female American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) held in captivity for 16 years laid a clutch of eggs, with one containing a discernable fetus, a female like her mother.Genetic analyses from a team of US scientists have now revealed the crocodile produced the eggs without any input from a male mate, in a…

Screengrab via Disney Plus What a week… From suing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to finally giving The Little Mermaid fans a sneak peek at Flounder (spoiler: it did not go over well), it’s safe to say the House of Mouse is in need of a break. While we’d love to toss the entertainment behemoth a block of cheese and call it a day, unfortunately, that’s not how news works; alas, there is more afloat.  Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania now has its Disney Plus release date, Chris Pine charmed the pants off of us as…

A recent study led by the University of Oxford reveals that the most endangered turtle and crocodile species are also the most unique, with their loss potentially causing widespread impacts on their ecosystems. Turtles and crocodiles play critical roles that are essential for many other species, making their conservation a high priority. The research, published in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of understanding which species face the greatest threats and the need to implement conservation efforts to save…

They’ve been on the planet for around 83 million years, and their giant ancestor Deinosuchus is believed to have even dined on dinosaurs. But while the crocodile is best known as an aggressive apex predator, the reptile has plenty of attack power in its immune system too.For the first time, scientists have discovered a unique component of a saltwater crocodile’s physiology that helps its immune system identify and kill fungal infections. It's this that allows them to thrive in microbe- and pathogen-laden waters…

A Nile crocodile swallows an impala, its reward for lying in wait beneath the water’s surface. By resurrecting the hemoglobin of ancient crocodilian ancestors, a Husker-led team has helped explain why other vertebrates failed to evolve the adaptations that allow crocs to go hours without air. Credit: Cell Press / Current Biology / Shutterstock / Scott Schrage, University of Nebraska–LincolnExperiments on ancient proteins reveal that mutations are more numerous and nuanced than previously believed.It can pogo-stick along…

Overview of the crocodiles during excavation. Credit: Patri Mora Riudavets, member of the Qubbat al-Hawā team, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Crocodiles were mummified in a unique way at the Egyptian site of Qubbat al-Hawā during the 5th Century BC, according to a study published January 18, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Bea De Cupere of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Belgium,…