CROCODILES
GOAL 3, PART 2
crocodile's fossil history and adaptations
- First there was the Deinosuchus or (terrible crocodile) who lived in the late Cretaceous period. The Deinosuchus have been known to grow up to 50 feet long! They had long and hard teeth capable of killing and eating large dinosaurs, sea turtles, fish and other aquatic animals it could catch. The Deinosuchus could have been prey to other meat eating dinosaurs but generally it is the predator.
- After that, came the Geosaurus, who lived in the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous period; they live most of or their entire life in the ocean. These were smaller than the first generation because they are only known to grow up to about 10 feet. The Geosaurus also had a shorter skull and curved teeth designed for slashing bigger prey.
- After that, the Leidyosuchus, came along in the late cretaceous period. No more major adaptations have been between the Leidoysuchus and the modern crocodile
MORPHOLOGY
Deinosuchus
First there was the Deinosuchus or (terrible crocodile) who lived in the late Cretaceous period. The Deinosuchus have been known to grow up to 50 feet long! They had long and hard teeth capable of killing and eating large dinosaurs, sea turtles, fish and other aquatic animals it could catch. The Deinosuchus could have been prey to other meat eating dinosaurs but generally it is the predator.
Geosaurus
After that, came the Geosaurus, who lived in the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous period; they live most of or their entire life in the ocean. These were smaller than the first generation because they are only known to grow up to about 10 feet. The Geosaurus also had a shorter skull and curved teeth designed for slashing bigger prey.
Leidyosuchus
After that, the Leidyosuchus, came along in the late cretaceous period. No more major adaptations have been between the Leidoysuchus and the modern crocodile.
DNA ANALYSIS
This picture is a cladogram of the evolution of the crocodile.
In the picture you can really see how much smaller they have gotten over the centuries but you can also tell how they didnt change too much other than size.