#Camouflage crocs skin#

This distinction is more important for paleontologists studying crocodilian evolution. Under its current definition as a crown group (as opposed to a stem-based group), Crocodylia is now restricted to only the last common ancestor of today's modern-day crocodilians ( alligators, crocodiles, and gharials) and all of its descendants (living or extinct). Prior to 1988, Crocodilia/Crocodylia was a group that encompassed the modern-day animals as well as their more distant relatives now in the larger groups called Crocodylomorpha and Pseudosuchia. However, it was not until the advent of cladistics and phylogenetic nomenclature that a more solid justification for assuming one spelling over the other was proposed. Dundee-in a revision of many reptilian and amphibian names-argued strongly for Crocodylia to be the spelling for the group. Shortly after, Wermuth opted for Crocodylia as the proper name for this redescribed group, basing it on the type genus Crocodylus ( Laurenti, 1768). Schmidt used the older term Crocodilia, based on Owen's original name for the group.

8.1 In mythology, religion, and folkloreĬrocodilia and Crocodylia have been used interchangeably for decades starting with Schmidt's redescription of the group from the formerly defunct term Loricata.

The earliest known mention of the story that crocodiles weep for their victims was in the 9th century it was later spread by Sir John Mandeville in 1400 and then by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century and early 17th century. Artistic and literary representations of crocodilians have appeared in human cultures around the world since Ancient Egypt. Humans are the greatest threat to crocodilian populations through activities that include hunting, poaching, and habitat destruction, but farming of crocodilians has greatly reduced unlawful trading in wild skins. The largest number of attacks comes from the Nile crocodile. Some species of crocodilians are known to have attacked humans. Females lay eggs in holes or in mounds and, unlike most other reptiles, care for their hatched young. During breeding, dominant males try to monopolise available females. Crocodilians are typically solitary and territorial, though cooperative feeding does occur. They are largely carnivorous, the various species feeding on animals such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, and mammals some species like the Indian gharial are specialised feeders, while others like the saltwater crocodile have generalised diets. They have a four-chambered heart and, somewhat like birds, a unidirectional looping system of airflow within the lungs, but like other living reptiles they are ectotherms.Ĭrocodilians are found mainly in lowlands in the tropics, but alligators also live in the southeastern United States and the Yangtze River in China. They have conical, peg-like teeth and a powerful bite.

#Camouflage crocs skin#

Their skin is thick and covered in non-overlapping scales. They swim well and can move on land in a 'high walk' and a 'low walk', while smaller species are even capable of galloping. Large, solidly built, lizard-like reptiles, crocodilians have long flattened snouts, laterally compressed tails, and eyes, ears, and nostrils at the top of the head. Although the term 'crocodiles' is sometimes used to refer to all of these, crocodilians is a less ambiguous vernacular term for members of this group. The order Crocodilia includes the true crocodiles (family Crocodylidae), the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae), and the gharial and false gharial (family Gavialidae).

Members of the order's total group, the clade Pseudosuchia, appeared about 250 million years ago in the Early Triassic period, and diversified during the Mesozoic era. They first appeared 95 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous period ( Cenomanian stage) and are the closest living relatives of birds, as the two groups are the only known survivors of the Archosauria. ProductArray.Clockwise from top-left: saltwater crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus), American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis), and gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus)Ĭrocodylia distribution on land (green) and at sea (blue)Ĭrocodilia (or Crocodylia, both / k r ɒ k ə ˈ d ɪ l i ə/) is an order of mostly large, predatory, semiaquatic reptiles, known as crocodilians. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 1-88 for assistance in English or 1-86 for assistance in Spanish.