Crocodiles survived asteroid impact due to climate preference
Divers and ocean readers may find interest in understanding how ancient ecosystems responded to mass extinctions.
New research suggests that crocodiles and their relatives survived the dinosaur extinction due to their long-term adaptation to warm climates. Scientists analyzed fossils and climate models to show that tropical regions remained habitable after the asteroid impact, offering refuges for crocodile species. This study highlights the role of climate in shaping survival during major environmental changes.
- Researchers at UCL studied 7,000 fossils and climate models to explain crocodile survival.
- Crocodile relatives expanded into warm regions, including Antarctica, during hot periods.
- Tropical areas remained suitable for crocodiles after the asteroid impact, unlike many dinosaur habitats.
- Adaptations allowed some crocodile relatives to survive extreme climate changes, like the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum.