Scientists from University College London have published research indicating that crocodiles survived the asteroid impact that eliminated most dinosaurs due to their long-standing preference for warm climates. The study, published in Science Advances, analyzed more than 7,000 fossils and records from over 400 living and extinct crocodile species, combined with computer models reconstructing Earth’s climate across 245 million years.
The research found that crocodiles and their ancient relatives spent most of their evolutionary history following warm environments rather than adapting to dramatically different temperatures. When global conditions grew warmer, these animals expanded into new regions, sometimes reaching as far as Antarctica. As temperatures declined, they retreated toward tropical areas. This behavioral pattern appears to have provided a crucial advantage during the mass extinction event.
According to the simulations, tropical and subtropical regions near the equator remained warm enough to support crocodile populations after the asteroid struck, even as suitable habitats for non-avian dinosaurs contracted severely. Dr. Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza, the lead researcher, noted that the asteroid impact did not make the entire planet equally hostile to all animal groups, and crocodiles’ preference for warm zones may have positioned surviving populations exactly where suitable climates persisted longest.
The broader crocodile lineage, known as pseudosuchians, once displayed far greater diversity than modern crocodiles suggest. Ancient relatives included heavily armored plant-eaters, land-dwelling hunters, and massive predators such as Sarcosuchus, which reached 12 meters in length. Despite this historical variety in body shapes and sizes, what remained consistent throughout their evolution was their relationship with climate.
The researchers acknowledged that favorable temperatures likely represented only one factor in crocodile survival. Other characteristics probably enhanced their chances of enduring the extinction, including relatively small body sizes, the ability to live partly in water, flexible diets, and modest energy requirements.
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