_crocodiles

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Evidence of ancient tree-climbing 'drop crocs' found in Australia Scientists say the crocodiles hunted like leopards by climbing trees and killing prey below.

News from Episode 231:

The oldest known fossil croc eggs, from Australia

Dwarf crocodile!

Extreme close up!

Can you identify this species of crocodilian?

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Full Sarcosuchus skull

Close up on the lower jaw.

Tip of the snout

Sarcosuchus skull undergoing preparation.

Sarcosuchus imperator, aka “Supercroc” as seen at the University of Chicago Fossil Lab. both a full reconstruction and one still in a plaster field jacket. #Croctober #fossilfriday 🐊

Making it snappy. #gharial #croctober 🐊

For #Croctober Day 20 I want to shout out some fun etymology. To the left you see Paludirex, a large mekosuchine who's name means "swamp king". On the right is Gunggamarandu, which translates to "river boss".
Both have been named by Jorgo Ristevski
Art by Eleanor Pease

GATORLAND POPS "SUPER STAR" YOU KNOW "THE WORLD'S MOST INTERESTING MAN" FROM THOSE TV COMMERCIALS? POPS IS THE GATOR VERSION OF THAT GUY. THIS MASTER THESPIAN HAS STARRED IN "INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM," "ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS," AND "PET PSYCHIC TO NAME A FEW. LIKE MOST MOVIE STARS, POPS IS ADORED BY THE LADY GATORS, BUT NEVER CAUSES TROUBLE ON SET. IN FACT, HE DOESN'T CARE WHAT COLOR M&M'S WE PUT IN HIS DRESSING ROOM. HE TAKES DIRECTION WELL AND EVEN DOES HIS OWN STUNTS. THE OLDEST ALLIGATOR AT GATORLAND, HE WAS JUST A GRUNT HATCHLING WHEN GATORLAND OPENED IN 1949.

Pops the alligator at Gatorland. He was a hatchling when the park opened in 1949. He apparently is also a movie star, having appeared in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

That film takes place in India (filmed in Sri Lanka), where crocodiles live. What were you thinking Spielberg?! #croctober 🐊

Looooooooooooongirostrine

#croctober 🐊

Even with a fence between us, it’s still intimidating being this close to such a big Nile croc.

#croctober 🐊

At the end you’ll notice this Cuban croc (C. rombifer) blink their third eyelid aka nictitating membrane. This helps protect their eyes underwater, while still allowing them to see.

#Croctober #cubancrocodile 🐊

A top down view of a saltwater crocodile’s head.

NaCl + H20

#croctober 🐊

It’s Blondie, a beautiful Nile crocodile!

I’ve seen yellow reptiles like this often referred to as xanthic. Mutation? Polygenic morph? Anyone know more?

#croctober 🐊

Why are these alligators so very baby?

#Croctober 🐊

Two baby gators, one leucistic, touching snouts. At Gatorland.

I don’t use this term lightly, but this is adorable!! Leucistic baby alligator. #CROCtober

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Sunbathing alligator near Canada-U.S. border finds new home after rescue in Detroit River An alligator was captured near the Canada-U. S. border in Michigan, across from Windsor, Ontario. Experts believe the foot-long reptile was someone’s illegally released pet. Read the full story and wa...

"Can an alligator survive a Canadian winter?", is not a question or a situation we should have to address.

www.insidehalton.com/news/alligat...

Replaced teeth from a dwarf crocodile.

#croctober 🐊

BAMA, THE CROCODILE Creator Unknown This Sogo bò puppet crocodile, or Bama, is a key figure in the Malian puppet tradition. The crocodile represents impartial power and an animal that does not attack outside its territory. DATE UNKNOWN | Mali TYPE | Rod Puppet MATERIALS | Wood, textile, paint, metal Gift of Nancy Lohman Staub

Friendly #CROCtober reminder that crocodiles have influenced human culture for thousands of years.

Here’s a puppet I saw on a recent visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, GA. 🐊

A basking baby alligator rests on a log. Eyes are shut and its forelimbs barely touches the pool of water below.

Live view of me* emerging from a blissful slumber to actually post because it’s #Croctober.

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*not actually a picture of me

Tiny extinct crocodyliform with unusual teeth discovered in Montana About 95 million years ago, a juvenile crocodyliform nicknamed Elton lived in what is now southwest Montana at the edge of the Western Interior Seaway.

New crocodyliform discovered in Montana.

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phys.org/news/2025-09...

A fossil slab of a caiman skull. The slab is flat, but you can see dimensions to the skull. The mouth is slightly agape and off center.

Caiman skull
Tsoabichi greenriverensis
52 million years old (Early Eocene)
Wyoming (Green River Formation)

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YouTube video by SciShow How Crocodilians Just Keep on Surviving

🎶I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key…

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youtu.be/N9upLFT87CE?...

Fossilized poop on a slab

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Coprolite, likely from a crocodilian.

coprolite measuring ~6.5" long on slab measuring 12" x 11"
Era: Cenozoic:
Location: Green River; ‘Fossil Lake'- Wyoming, USA

Choose your pets wisely.

www.seattletimes.com/nation-world...

A baby alligator next to the skull of a sub adult. Note: for transport, this gator had its mouth wrapped. The wrap was removed shortly after.

Lots of growing to do.

A Guide to Identifying Crocodilians of the World Brueggen and Brueggen

I’ve got mail…

Crocodile skeleton

Juvennile Crocodylus rhombifer skeletal mount.

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Fort Worth Zoo’s Gharial Streak Makes History Fort Worth Zoo makes history with a third consecutive year of hatching critically endangered gharials.

fwtx.com/news/fort-wo...

Fort Worth Zoo celebrates hatching of rare ‘amazing animal’ third year in a row The Fort Worth Zoo is the only institution in North America to have successfully bred this critically endangered reptile for multiple years in a row.

amp.star-telegram.com/news/local/f...