How did alligators survive the asteroid?

Crocodiles survived the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs thanks to their ‘versatile’ and ‘efficient’ body shape, that allowed them to cope with the enormous environmental changes triggered by the impact, according to new research.

Did alligators survive the meteor?

They live near the water However, for some reason, freshwater rivers and lakes were less impacted by the meteor. This helped the Crocodiles survive, as their amphibious lifestyle let them roam the rivers to escape the land and sea disasters.

How do crocodiles survive?

In the wild, crocodiles will clamp down on their prey with their massive jaws, crush it, and then they will swallow the prey whole. They do not have the capability to chew or break off small pieces of food like other animals. Thanks to their slow metabolisms, crocodiles can survive for months without food.

How did crocodiles adapt to their environment?

Crocodilians can move about on land – with surprising speed, particularly when alarmed or angry – but their bodies are mainly adapted for a life in water. The nostrils, eyes and ears lie along the top of the head so that the animal can hear, see, smell and breathe when the rest of the body is submerged.

Which animal survived the asteroid?

Crocodiles had some keys to survival Crocodiles were another group that famously survived the asteroid. Obviously they can’t fly, don’t have feathers, and don’t eat seeds! But they had other secrets to success.

How do crocodiles adapt?

How do crocodiles adapt to the wetlands?

Modern alligators have many adaptations to make them well suited for their wetland environment. These plates are extremely thick and well adapted for their environment. Their skin camouflages very well with their environment and along with the bulging eyes this makes them look like a log!

Could crocodiles have survived the Yucatan Meteor?

Neither of these adaptations would have been very effective in the cold, dark conditions immediately following the Yucatan meteor impact. Crocodiles, by contrast, possess classically “reptilian” cold-blooded metabolisms, meaning they don’t have to eat very much and can survive for extended periods in severe darkness and cold.

How did crocodiles keep their heads down during K/T?

Perhaps the stubby legs and low-slung posture of crocodiles allowed them to literally “keep their heads down” during the K/T upheaval, thrive in a wide variety of climatic conditions, and avoid the fate of their dinosaur pals.

How long did crocodiles live after dinosaurs went extinct?

Within a short period of time—estimates range from a few hundred to a few thousand years—every last dinosaur, pterosaur, and marine reptile had disappeared off the face of the earth, but crocodiles, oddly enough, survived into the ensuing Cenozoic Era.

Are alligators and crocodiles endangered?

Even today, when numerous mammal, reptile and bird species have gone extinct or are seriously endangered, alligators and crocodiles around the world continue to thrive (except for those targeted by shoe-leather makers).