Crocodilian

Chelonian (183)
Crocodilian (177)
Reptile (66)
Saurian (180)
Snake (376)

Synopsis: 4.4. animals: Reptiles: Crocodilian:

it is invulnerable to almost all forms of predators angry alligators being one possible exception Â. Boars are smart, fast, hard to hunt."

and purchase anything being sold as crocodile meat. When they brought the meat back and analysed it,

they found it wasn't from crocodile at all. Its origins weren't exactly clear, but for all the world it looked suspiciously like some kind of python.

From mislabeled crocodile to fake fur, a global industry has thrived for centuries by supplying shops and markets with fraudulent or counterfeit products.

So for barcoding to become really useful for someone like Kolokotronis examining the crocodile meat in Chinatown,

and crocodiles and could eventually pose a major threat to children, pets and livestock. Rounding out the bottom five are killer bees, starlings, mountain pine beetles, brown tree snakes and Asian mongooses.

Life-sized models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.

Crocodiles#An estimated 600-800 fatalities a year. Bees#An estimated 400-600 fatalities a year.

It s long been known that alligators are lost able toregrow teeth, for example, but it was assumed to be a cyclical process,

An alligator s tooth will grow back automatically to replace a lost one. This is quite significant

because the structure of alligators teeth is pretty similar to ours. The problem has been that the inner areas of teeth contain living tissue known as#oepulp#that doesn t grow back.

#Are Crocodiles Secret Fruit-Lovers?(Op-Ed) This article was published originally atâ The Conversation. Â The publication contributed the article to Livescience'sâ Expert Voices:

Now we can add crocodiles to that list. A new study reviewed the diets of crocodiles

and showed that 13 of 18 species ate fruit of some sort and a wide variety of plants.

The recent study published in the Journal of Zoology shows that for crocodiles almost a quarter of the fruits consumed were of the oefleshy kind.

Most of the evidence come from dissection of crocodiles'stomachs and their faeces. So there is some chance that these crocodiles are indirect eaters of fruit who feast on fruit-eating animals.

But direct observations (see video) have been made many times to believe that they might actually like eating fruits.

First researchers that crocodiles learnt this behaviour from alligators in captivity. But the review makes note of observations in the wild.

Perhaps this odd phenomenon might help in part explain why crocodiles are such successful animals.

Crocodiles are obligate carnivores their primary diet is meat and as such fruits are classed often as anomalous food items

That the review study picked up so many independent instances of crocodiles feeding on fruit and having ingested seeds is solid evidence for this.

and then crying crocodile tears when the wolves show up for a free meal. The people who want to kill wolves don't want to admit that their agenda is driven by an irrational hatred and a lack of understanding of wolves.

<a href=http://www. livescience. com/39159-time-travel-with-wormhole. html target=blank>Wormhole Is Best Bet for Time machine Astrophysicist Says</a p></p><p>Crocodiles

and alligators are infamous carnivores but it turns out they do not live on meat alone scientists have discovered unexpectedly that these predators occasionally snack on fruit as well.</

</p><p>These surprising findings suggest crocodilians which include alligators crocodiles and their close relatives might via seeds they poop out

<a href=http://www. livescience. com/39198-crocodiles-alligators-eat-fruit. html target=blank>Crikey!

Crocodiles and Alligators Snack on Fruit</a p></p><p>Ancient trash heaps in Bolivia used for millennia now suggest humans explored the western Amazon as early as 10000 years ago researchers say.</

Crocodiles and Alligators Snack on Fruit Crocodiles and alligators are infamous carnivores but it turns out they do not live on meat alone scientists have discovered unexpectedly that these predators occasionally snack on fruit as well.

These surprising findings suggest crocodilians which include alligators crocodiles and their close relatives might via seeds they poop out

Scientists investigated 18 species of crocodilian ranging from the American alligator to the fearsome Nile crocodile and found evidence that 13 of those speciesâ devoured fruit of some kind including a variety of berries legumes nuts and grains.

Crocodilians consume fruits and such behavior seems very common contrary to what people have thought for many years said researcher Steven Platt a herpetologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Alligators vs. Crocodiles: Photos Reveal Who's Who Although at times the reptiles ate the fruit accidentally for instance

if the fruit was in the guts of prey they captured the researchers found evidence that the fruit was consumed also deliberately and in large quantities.

For instance scientists have seen crocodilians eating wild grapes elderberries and citrus fruit directly from trees. I had found seeds in crocodiles before but

I had assumed just they were not important and when I talked with other crocodilian biologists everyone had the same experience Platt told Livescience.

Everyone just rejected the notion that crocodilians eat fruit because everyone supposed they only ate meat.

Although early research suggested crocodilians were unable to digest sugars and other plant-based nutrients subsequent work with the American alligator has demonstrated otherwise.

Crocodilians do not chew any fruit would likely get swallowed whole to digest in the strong acids of their guts.

Crocodilians always surprise us Platt said. I've been doing research on them for 25 years and

I'm still learning something new all the time they're fascinating animals. Crocodilians might potentially spread plants far and wide researchers suggested.

Some crocodilians make transoceanic journeys some crocodilians such as the saltwater crocodile have been found to wander 1000 miles (1600 kilometers) swimming from island to island Platt said.

There are all sorts of interesting implications there for the movement of plants across islands. The researchers would now like to feed fruit to crocodilians to see what happens to the seeds Do they regurgitate them out their mouths

or do they come out in their feces? Platt asked. What effects do their guts have on the seeds?

The scientists detailed their findings in the July issue of the Journal of Zoology. Followâ Livescienceâ@livescience Facebookâ & Google+.

Besides humans giraffes'only predators are lions and crocodiles. Giraffes can defend themselves with a deadly kick

and it needs its mom's protection from lions crocodiles and adult male hippos which sometimes attack calves in the water.

Dozens of species disappeared altogether including 17 giant lemurs three pygmy hippopotamuses two aardvarklike mammals a giant fossa (a catlike carnivore) eight elephant birds a giant crocodile and two giant tortoises.

because they reveal more than just bone show that hadrosaurs had pebbly skin not unlike that of today's crocodiles and birds.

which would give rise to crocodiles dinosaurs and birds. Most creepily this era is referred sometimes to as the Age of the Cockroaches

Crocodiles lizards turtles pythons and other reptiles also thrived during this period. As for vegetation it was limited fairly in many areas.

Ape oddity When O. bambolii was formed alive Italy a string of islands that were covered with swampy forests and teeming with crocodilians.

#Butterflies Caught Lapping Up Crocodile Tears Crocodile tears may be drinks for thirsty butterflies and bees new research reveals.

and filmed butterflies and bees fluttering about the corners of the eyes of a spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) a crocodilian that can reach up to 8. 2 feet (2. 5 meters) long that was basking on the riverbank.

what other kinds of nutrients might be in crocodilian tears in addition to the sodium in salt.

The caiman seemed very tolerant of both the butterfly and the bee de la Rosa said.

if any benefits are received by the caimans. Future research can explore how common these interactions are

In this layer of stone and dirt scientists have discovered the fossils of ancient turtles crocodiles croc-like champsosauruses as well as dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus rex and the three-horned Triceratops horridus.

Unlike their close relatives the crocodilians Rauisuchians had an upright stance but are differentiated from true dinosaurs by the way that the pelvis

Crocodiles Can Climb Trees Forget leapin'lizards. In Australia Africa and North america it's climbin'crocodiles you have to worry about.

New research finds that yikes crocodiles can climb trees even reaching the uppermost branches. Four species found on three continents showed this behavior

which may help the reptiles regulate their body temperature and survey their habitat. The most frequent observations of tree-basking were in areas where there were few places to bask on the ground implying that the individuals needed alternatives for regulating their body temperature the authors wrote online Jan 25 in the journal Herpetology Notes.

Alligator Alley: Pictures of Monster Reptiles Crocodiles like other reptiles are called ectothermic (also cold-blooded) meaning they can't regulate their own body temperature

and so must rely on outside sources such as the sun. Crocodilian climbers Crocodiles are considered usually ground-dwellers

but a few anecdotes suggested they climb at least occasionally. Local reports from Mexico Colombia Indonesia and Botswana among other spots described crocs basking in mangroves and other trees.

A photographer even snapped a shot of a croc cousin the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) in a tree about 4 to 6 feet (2 to 3 meters) above the water at the Pearl river Delta in Mississippi.

In the course of conducting their crocodile research the scientists kept sharp eyes out and recorded their observations of climbing crocs.

In Australia they observed freshwater crocodiles basking on low-hanging branches day and night. When approached by boats the crocs splashed into the water below to escape.

Climbing Aussie crocodiles were more likely to be small or juvenile; hatchlings are sometimes able to cling to brickwork and escape crocodile farms.

In The americas Dinets observed crocs as long as 3 feet (1 m) sunning themselves on mangrove roots and branches.

This shyness might explain why tree-climbing behavior in crocodilians remains relatively little known despite being relatively common the researchers wrote.

Dinets and his colleagues have previously found that crocodiles and alligators can use tools disguising themselves with sticks as they hunt.

When birds land on what appears to be a muddy log covered in useful nesting materials they become dinner for the waiting beast.

Warmth and safety The champion climbers of the crocodilians seem to be Central africa's slender-snouted species

The largest tree-climber observed was a Nile crocodile 6. 5 feet (2 m) seen basking a foot and a half (0. 5 m) above water on a fallen branch in Botswana.

There is no evidence that crocodiles have evolved to climb trees but they are still capable of climbing high Dinets and his colleagues concluded.

or other warm places to bask suggesting that crocodilians use trees to get out of the shade

The crispy carcasses of muskrats alligators and snakehead fish populated the other carving boards and fried tarantulas were served on sticks.

and stealth to take down deer peccary monkeys birds frogs fish alligators and small rodents. If wild food is scarce these large cats will also hunt domestic livestock.

It had a crocodile-like head a moveable neck and nostrils for breathing air. The close of the Devonian period is considered to be the second of the big five#mass extinction events of Earth s history.

#Chasing Alligators, Dodging Parrots: A Zookeeper's Life (Op-Ed) Christopher Scoufaras is a zookeeper at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)' s Queens Zoo.

Part of my job is transporting alligators on and off exhibit during the changing of the seasons. We've trained them to walk into crates.

Like any animal alligators are motivated by food: We've conditioned them to run toward the sound of clanking tongs

We'll put tongs at the end of the crate to draw the alligators in and then close the sliding doors.

I'm not scared of the alligators but I do sometimes get goose bumps from a few of the parrots.

How Two Women Brought a Sea Change to Conservation (Op-Ed) A Crocodile Hunt Redefined in Southeastern Cuba (Op-Ed) Stepping up Conservation in Fiji in Stilettos (Op-Ed

They were reporting the results of a field trial of transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in a town on Grand Cayman

Drillers will spend several weeks boring through layers of rock that house the fossils of tiny early dinosaurs and giant crocodile-like phytosaurs,

Since 2004, for instance, several skeletons have been unearthed of an extinct crocodile-like animal called Revueltosaurus, previously known only from its teeth.

#Are Crocodiles Secret Fruit-Lovers? Seed dispersal by animals is important for plants to help them occupy new areas of land.

Now we can add crocodiles to that list. A new study reviewed the diets of crocodiles

and showed that 13 of 18 species ate fruit of some sort and a wide variety of plants.

The recent study published in the Journal of Zoology shows that for crocodiles almost a quarter of the fruits consumed were of the âÂ#Âoefleshyã¢Â# kind.

Most of the evidence come from dissection of crocodiles'stomachs and their faeces. So there is some chance that these crocodiles are indirect eaters of fruit who feast on fruit-eating animals.

But direct observations (see video) have been made many times to believe that they might actually like eating fruits.

First researchers that crocodiles learnt this behaviour from alligators in captivity. But the review makes note of observations in the wild.

Perhaps this odd phenomenon might help in part explain why crocodiles are such successful animals.

Crocodiles are obligate carnivores âÂ#Âtheir primary diet is meat âÂ#Âand as such fruits are classed often as anomalous food items

That the review study picked up so many independent instances of crocodiles feeding on fruit and having ingested seeds is solid evidence for this.

Oh the alligator tears over taxation...Seriously. Yes I understand that life has evolved over millenia under different climates

You still see that in birds crocodilians and snakes he explains. Like other placental mammals we humans lost our yolk somewhere along the line

Once you pass the Malinowski ranger station where visitors must sign in civilization drops away for good with caimans

These results indicate a shift from the standard bird knee-driven bipedal locomotion to a more hip-driven locomotion typical of crocodilians (the only other extant archosaur group) mammals

and now this demand is being linked to the contamination of Central america's crocodilians. New research published in Environmental Toxicology

and Chemistry analyses blood samples from spectacled caiman in Costa rica and finds that intensive pesticide use in plantations leads to contaminated species in protected conservation areas.

Tortuguero is home to the spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) one of the most common species of crocodilian in Central america.

The team collected blood samples from 14 adult caiman and analyzed them for traces of 70 types of pesticide.

Caiman within the high intensity banana crop watershed of Rio Suerte had higher pesticide burdens relative to other more remote locations.

The nine pesticides detected in the caiman blood were identified as insecticides. Of these seven were listed as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) banned under the 2011 Stockholm Convention.

Caiman near banana plantations had higher pesticide burdens and lower body condition said Grant. This suggests that either pesticides pose a health risk to caiman

or that pesticides harm the habitat and food supply of caiman thereby reducing the health of this predator.

As long-lived species atop the food chain crocodilians provide an integrated assessment of the fate of pesticides in tropical areas

and can be indicative of pesticide damage throughout the ecosystem. Caiman and other aquatic species have been exposed to pesticides from upstream banana plantations even in remote areas of a national wilderness area concluded Grant.

Banana plantations may be economically important to Costa rica; however their erosion of aquatic ecosystems highlights the need for a developed regulatory infrastructure and adequate enforcement.

#Crocodile confession: Meat-eating predators occasionally eat fruitit turns out that alligators do not live on meat alone.

Neither do Nile crocodiles. A new study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society says that the American alligator

and a dozen other crocodile species enjoy an occasional taste of fruit along with their normal meat-heavy diets of mammals birds and fish.

The study gives new insight into the possible role that crocodilians some of which have large territories may play in forest regeneration through digesting and passing seeds from fruits.

The study appears in the July issue of the Journal of Zoology. Authors include: Steven Platt of the Wildlife Conservation Society;

Ruth M. Elsey of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; Hong Liu of Florida International University and the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden;

The authors looked at 18 species of crocodilian ranging from the American alligator to the fearsome Nile crocodile

Much remains to be learned about how crocodilians process carbohydrates and other plant-based nutrients though studies suggests that fruit eating is likely to yield nutritional rewards for crocodilians.

Although underreported fruit eating appears widespread among crocodilians said the study's lead author Steven Platt of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Given the biomass of crocodiles in many subtropical and tropical wetlands and their capacity for ingesting large numbers of fruits we consider it likely that crocodilians function as significant seed dispersal agents in many freshwater ecosystems.

Story Source: The above story is provided based on materials by Wildlife Conservation Society. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference e

#Honeyguide birds destroy own species eggs to eliminate competitionlike cuckoos honeyguides are parasitic birds that lay their eggs in other birds'nests

The Arctic ocean did not have ice in the summer and nearby land was warm enough to support alligators and palm trees.

--Eurhopalothrix zipacna named for a violent crocodile-like Mayan demon and found in Guatemala and Honduras.--Eurhopalothrix xibalba or a place of fear for the underworld ruled by death gods in certain Mayan mythology.

On that day Fernandes a researcher for the Instituto Arara Azul a partner organization observed a group of approximately 30 white-lipped peccaries at Caiman Lodge near the town of Miranda in the Pantanal one of the world's largest tropical wetlands.

Previous studies by Eberle and colleagues showed the fauna there included ancestors of tapirs hippo-like creatures crocodiles and giant tortoises.

#Crocodile tears please thirsty butterflies and beesthe butterfly (Dryas iulia) and the bee (Centris sp.

On a beautiful December day in 2013 they found the precious nutrients in the tears of a spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) relaxing on the banks of the RÃ o Puerto Viejo in northeastern Costa rica.

while the caiman basked placidly and the insects fluttered about the corners of its eyes.

and moths in the Amazon feeding on the tears of turtles and a few caimans. Tear-drinking lachryphagous behavior in bees had only recently been observed by biologists.

#Crocodilians can climb trees and bask in the tree crownswhen most people envision crocodiles and alligators they think of them waddling on the ground or wading in water--not climbing trees.

However a University of Tennessee Knoxville study has found that the reptiles can climb trees as far as the crowns.

Vladimir Dinets a research assistant professor in the Department of psychology is the first to thoroughly study the tree-climbing

Dinets and his colleagues observed crocodilian species on three continents--Australia Africa and North america--and examined previous studies and anecdotal observations.

The smaller crocodilians were able to climb higher and further than the larger ones. Some species were observed climbing as far as four meters high in a tree and five meters down a branch.

Still the ability to climb vertically is a measure of crocodiles'spectacular agility on land. The crocodilians seen climbing trees whether at night or during the day were skittish of being approached jumping

or falling into the water when an approaching observer was as far as 10 meters away.

The data suggests that at least some crocodilian species are able to climb trees despite lacking any obvious morphological adaptations to do so.

This is especially true for those studying extinct crocodiles or other Archosaurian taxa. Dinets collaborated with Adam Britton from Charles darwin University in Australia and Matthew Shirley from the University of Florida.

Research by Dinets published in 2013 found another surprising crocodilian characteristic--the use of lures such as sticks to hunt prey.

200-acre plantation outside Charleston where the alligator hunt was about to take place. The Canadian, Connie Desousa, had asked to be designated the shooter.

walking ahead to warn off poisonous snakes and alligators. Half the group cut the rice with hand sickles

Meanwhile, the alligator hunt turned up nothing, even when the party tried dragging a beast out of the canal with a hook and line.

At lunchtime, the chefs grilled an alligator that had been killed the night before. Most everybody agreed it was bland and chewy.

Of course, there are native animals that are edible too (such as kangaroos, crocodiles and emus), but Weatherhead prefers to educate us on the wonders of Australias native flora world.

such as genetically engineering alligators with salamander DNA so their huge, meaty tails fell off when grabbed with huge tongs

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