C
Species Profile

Crocodylomorph

Crocodylomorpha

From river ambush to ocean roam
iStock.com/CoreyFord

Crocodylomorph Distribution

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This map shows coastal regions where Crocodylomorph are found.

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Found in 90 countries

Size Comparison

Human 5'8"
Crocodylomorph 1 ft 4 in

Crocodylomorph stands at 23% of average human height.

Sarcoshus imperator

At a Glance

Order Overview This page covers the Crocodylomorph order as a group. Stats below are general traits shared across the order.
Also Known As Crocodilians, Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans, Gharials, Crocs, Gators, Salties
Diet Carnivore
Activity Cathemeral+
Lifespan 35 years
Weight 1200 lbs
Status Not Evaluated
Did You Know?

Crocodylomorpha is broader than today's Crocodylia: it includes all living crocodylians plus many extinct, often very different, relatives.

Scientific Classification

Order Overview "Crocodylomorph" is not a single species but represents an entire order containing multiple species.

Crocodylomorpha is the archosaur lineage that includes all living crocodylians and a wide diversity of extinct forms ranging from small terrestrial hunters to large semiaquatic predators. Modern members are characterized by armored skin (osteoderms), powerful jaws, and semi-aquatic lifestyles, but extinct crocodylomorphs were ecologically diverse.

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Crocodylomorpha

Distinguishing Features

  • Archosaur reptiles with a crocodylian-type skull and jaw apparatus
  • Dermal armor (osteoderms) common, especially in semi-aquatic forms
  • Sprawling-to-semi-erect limb posture depending on lineage; extinct forms included more erect terrestrial types
  • Includes both living crocodylians and numerous extinct relatives with varied ecologies

Physical Measurements

Males and females differ in size

Height
♂ 1 ft 4 in (4 in – 3 ft 11 in)
Length
♂ 11 ft 6 in (12 in – 22 ft 12 in)
♀ 8 ft 2 in (1 ft 8 in – 9 ft 10 in)
Weight
♂ 551 lbs (0 lbs – 1.4 tons)
♀ 331 lbs (1 lbs – 331 lbs)
Tail Length
♂ 5 ft 11 in (6 in – 11 ft 6 in)
♀ 3 ft 11 in (10 in – 18 ft 1 in)
Top Speed
11 mph
Short land bursts, strong swimmers

Appearance

Primary Colors
Brown Gray Green Black Tan
Secondary Colors
Cream Yellow White Spotted Striped
Skin Type Thick, hard, scaly skin with bony plates (osteoderms) making armor; rough with raised scutes and sensory pits. Armor varies: some terrestrial crocodylomorphs differ, and some marine forms had less armor.
Distinctive Features
  • Crocodylomorpha vary a lot in size, from about 0.3–1 m long to 10–12 m; many modern species are about 1.5–6+ m. Mass ranges from under 1 kg to several thousand kg.
  • Skull and snout shapes vary widely: short, deep 'power-bite' skulls, general triangular snouts, and very long, narrow gharial-like snouts for catching fish; extinct groups had other specialized skull and tooth forms.
  • Dentition is highly variable: many have conical teeth for gripping prey; others (notably several extinct terrestrial lineages) evolved more complex tooth shapes suggesting omnivory, herbivory, or durophagy (shell-crushing).
  • Armored osteoderms are common, especially on the back (and sometimes extending onto flanks/neck); arrangement and robustness vary by lineage and ecology (often heavier in semi-aquatic/defensive forms, sometimes modified in highly aquatic/marine forms).
  • Powerful tail typically laterally compressed in semi-aquatic members for propulsion; limb proportions vary from sprawling/semi-erect aquatic walkers to more cursorial terrestrial forms in some extinct clades.
  • Sensory adaptations in living crocodylians include integumentary sensory organs (pressure/vibration detection) concentrated around jaws and sometimes body scales; extent and exact distribution in extinct crocodylomorphs are uncertain but broadly consistent with semiaquatic lifestyles where present.
  • Modern Crocodylidae, Alligatoridae, and Gavialidae are mainly semi-aquatic ambush predators in fresh or brackish water, basking, making sounds, and caring for young. Other crocodylomorphs were terrestrial, herbivores, or marine.
  • Lifespan varies: many living crocodilians live about 20–70+ years, some reach 80–100 years in captivity. Fossils rarely give exact lifespans; extinct small types likely lived shorter, large types longer.

Sexual Dimorphism

Many living Crocodylia show sexual dimorphism that varies by species and population. It is often slight in color but clearer in size and head shape. In fossil Crocodylomorpha, sex differences are hard to tell; males often grow larger with stronger skulls and necks, but this can vary.

♂
  • Often larger average total length and mass within a species (especially in many living Crocodylidae and Alligatoridae).
  • Frequently broader, more robust skull and jaw musculature (species-dependent).
  • May show more prominent nuchal/dorsal armor relief or thicker neck/shoulder region due to overall size (not a universal diagnostic trait).
  • Behavioral dimorphism common in living taxa: territoriality, display/vocalization intensity, and dominance interactions typically stronger in males (ecology-dependent).
♀
  • Often smaller average adult size within a species (species-dependent; overlap is common).
  • In living taxa, reproductive/parental behaviors (nesting, guarding, transporting hatchlings) are typically expressed by females more consistently, though males may assist in some species.
  • External appearance differences in coloration are usually minor or inconsistent compared to size-based differences, and are rarely reliable for sexing without additional context.

Did You Know?

Crocodylomorpha is broader than today's Crocodylia: it includes all living crocodylians plus many extinct, often very different, relatives.

Body size spans from small extinct forms under ~1 m long to giants like Sarcosuchus and Deinosuchus around ~10-12 m (estimates vary by specimen).

Living members fall into three main lineages: Crocodylidae (true crocodiles), Alligatoridae (alligators & caimans), and Gavialidae (gharials & close kin).

Crocodylomorphs evolved multiple lifestyles over time: fully terrestrial runners, semi-aquatic ambush predators, and even open-ocean swimmers (marine thalattosuchians).

Their bony skin armor (osteoderms) can function as protection and as part of heat exchange-helping many species thermoregulate while basking.

Many living species use infrasound/low-frequency calls and water-surface displays to communicate across distances in dense wetlands.

Fossil evidence shows repeated evolution of unusual snouts and teeth-some built for fish, some for crushing, and some for slicing meat-reflecting major dietary diversity.

Unique Adaptations

  • Armored integument with osteoderms: a defensive "body armor" that also contributes to posture support and heat exchange in many living forms; thickness and pattern differ among taxa.
  • Powerful jaw-closing muscles and robust skull architecture: optimized for gripping and holding; bite force is high in many large species, while snout shape reflects different feeding specializations (broad vs. slender).
  • Secondary bony palate and valved throat anatomy: allows breathing while the mouth is open in water and helps prevent water intake during submersion and prey handling.
  • Sensory specializations for aquatic hunting: pressure-sensitive integumentary organs (especially on the snout in many crocodiles) detect water movements; distribution and sensitivity vary among groups.
  • Efficient semi-aquatic locomotion: sprawling-to-semi-erect postures on land and strong tail propulsion in water; extinct crocodylomorphs also evolved more upright, long-limbed running builds and, separately, flipper-like marine adaptations.
  • Salt and water balance adaptations: some living crocodiles possess well-developed lingual salt glands aiding brackish/marine life; other lineages are more freshwater-restricted.
  • Flexible dental/ecological evolution across the clade: repeated shifts to fish-eating, shell-crushing, terrestrial predation, and marine pursuit-demonstrating unusually high ecological plasticity for an archosaur lineage.

Interesting Behaviors

  • Ambush hunting is common in living crocodylians: they often remain still with only eyes/nostrils exposed, then strike with rapid head and body acceleration; intensity and prey choice vary by species and habitat.
  • "Death roll" feeding occurs in several living species: spinning helps tear off chunks or subdue prey, but not all species roll equally often.
  • Seasonal basking and mouth-gaping are widespread behaviors for thermoregulation; timing and reliance vary with climate (tropics vs. temperate zones).
  • Parental care is unusually strong for reptiles in many living crocodylians: females guard nests, assist hatchlings, and may transport young; the degree of care differs among species.
  • Vocal and display behaviors are diverse: bellows, head slaps, jaw claps, bubble displays, and subsonic vibrations are used in territoriality and mating; signaling style differs among lineages (e.g., alligators vs. crocodiles vs. gharials).
  • Habitat use varies widely across the broader crocodylomorph lineage through time: extinct forms include long-legged terrestrial hunters and streamlined marine predators, while modern species are mostly freshwater/brackish, with a few highly salt-tolerant coastal specialists.
  • Some living crocodylians show notable navigation and site fidelity, returning to preferred territories; movement patterns range from local home ranges to long-distance dispersal in certain species.

Cultural Significance

Crocodylia (Crocodylomorpha), crocodiles and alligators stand for power, danger, and guarding in river societies. In Ancient Egypt people linked them to the god Sobek. Around the world they are river spirits, protectors, warnings, and key to wetlands, ecotourism, and conservation.

Myths & Legends

Ancient Egypt: Sobek, a crocodile-headed deity, was associated with the Nile's power, fertility, and royal protection; some temples maintained and venerated sacred crocodiles.

Ancient Egypt: Ammit, the "Devourer" in funerary tradition, is often depicted with a crocodile head and is tied to the judgment of souls in the afterlife.

In Indian and South Asian stories, a mythical water creature with crocodile-like features is linked to rivers and seas and is sometimes shown as the mount of the Ganges' goddess and a Hindu sea god.

Buddhist Jataka and Panchatantra-related folktales: "The Monkey and the Crocodile" (and close variants) tell of a crocodile's attempted trickery and a monkey's escape through wit; versions are widespread across South and Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asian folklore (notably in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia): crocodile stories sometimes treat crocodiles as river guardians or as beings connected to ancestors or shape-shifting humans, reinforcing taboos and respect for waterways.

Australian Aboriginal traditions (regional variants): crocodiles appear in some Dreaming stories as powerful water beings tied to law, caution, and the dangers of rivers; specific narratives vary by language group and country.

Conservation Status

NE Not Evaluated

Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

Population Unknown

Protected Under

  • CITES (multiple crocodylian species listed in Appendix I and/or II; regulated international trade in skins/leather and products)
  • National and subnational legal protections for many species (hunting bans/quotas, protected-area provisions, conflict-management policies)
  • Wetland and riverine protected areas and recovery programs (status and effectiveness vary greatly by country and species)

Looking for a specific species?

Saltwater crocodile

Crocodylus porosus

Most widely recognized 'crocodile' globally in popular media and general reference, and the largest living crocodylian-often used as the benchmark when people talk about crocodiles as a group.

  • Largest living crocodylian; adult males can reach extreme body sizes compared with other species.
  • Naturally uses freshwater, brackish, and marine/estuarine habitats; capable of long-distance coastal movements.
  • Apex ambush predator with broad diet shifting from invertebrates/fish (juveniles) to large vertebrates (adults).
  • Highly territorial in many settings; conflict risk rises where people and crocodiles share waterways.
  • Like other crocodylians, shows extended parental care (nest guarding and/or assistance of hatchlings varies by population).

You might be looking for:

Nile Crocodile

18%

Crocodylus niloticus

Large African crocodile; one of the best-known living crocodylians within Crocodylomorpha.

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Saltwater Crocodile

16%

Crocodylus porosus

Largest living reptile; widespread in Indo-Pacific coastal waters.

American Alligator

14%

Alligator mississippiensis

North American alligator; representative of Alligatoridae within Crocodylomorpha.

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Gharial

10%

Gavialis gangeticus

Slender-snouted fish-eater; distinctive living lineage within Crocodylomorpha.

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Sarcosuchus

8%

Sarcosuchus imperator

Extinct gigantic crocodylomorph (often called ‘SuperCroc’) from the Early Cretaceous.

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Deinosuchus

7%

Deinosuchus hatcheri (genus Deinosuchus)

Extinct giant alligatoroid crocodylomorph from the Late Cretaceous of North America.

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Life Cycle

Birth 40 hatchlings
Lifespan 35 years

Lifespan

In the Wild
10–70 years
In Captivity
15–110 years

Reproduction

Mating System Polygynandry
Social Structure Aggregation Group
Breeding Pattern Seasonal
Fertilization Internal Fertilization
Birth Type Internal_fertilization

Crocodylomorpha (including Crocodylia) are mainly polygynandrous: both sexes mate with multiple partners and clutches often show multiple paternity. Adults are mostly solitary, gather seasonally to breed with internal fertilization; pair bonds are seasonal and cooperative breeding is rare.

Behavior & Ecology

Social Congregation Group: 6
Activity Cathemeral, Nocturnal, Crepuscular, Diurnal
Diet Carnivore Aquatic vertebrates-especially fish-are the most broadly common staple across many crocodylomorph lineages, though diets range from insect-heavy in small forms/juveniles to large-vertebrate predation and (in some extinct groups) substantial plant use.
Seasonal Hibernates 373 mi

Temperament

Typically wary and avoidance-prone toward unfamiliar large animals at distance, but can become bold/habituated near predictable food sources (including human-subsidized sites).
Strongly territorial or dominance-structured in many contexts (especially adult males in breeding season); intensity varies by species, habitat crowding, and resource limitation.
Opportunistic predatory behavior is common in living members (sit-and-wait ambush, shoreline stalking); extinct crocodylomorphs ranged from fully terrestrial pursuit hunters to specialized aquatic/nearshore ambushers, so hunting 'temperament' and spacing likely varied widely.
Intraspecific aggression (bites, head-slaps, chases) occurs, but much interaction is ritualized (postures, bellowing, jaw displays) to avoid costly injury; tolerance increases in dense refuges where avoidance is impossible.
Parental defense can be intense: nest-guarding females and attending adults may show heightened aggression near nests and nurseries; level of defense and duration vary among species.
Thermoregulation drives much behavior: basking and water/land shuttling can increase visibility and local crowding; individuals often tolerate nearby conspecifics while basking but retain personal space.
Body size across the order strongly shapes risk-taking and dominance: smaller individuals are more secretive and prone to flee; large adults are more assertive, especially at feeding sites.
Lifespan and maturity are slow relative to many reptiles, promoting long-term site familiarity and repeated use of traditional nesting/basking areas; exact longevity varies widely among species and is generally greater in larger-bodied taxa.

Communication

Low-frequency bellows/roars (notably in many crocodiles/alligators) used in territory advertisement, mate attraction, and dominance signaling.
Grunts, hisses, and growls during close-range interactions Threats, spacing, handling of prey
Chirps/peeps from hatchlings and juveniles to solicit protection and coordinate movement; adults may respond to these calls.
Contact calls between adults and young near nests/nurseries; repertoire and prominence vary among lineages E.g., crocodiles vs. gharial
Visual displays: raised body posture, inflated throat/neck, head and tail positioning, jaw gapes, and open-mouth threat displays to regulate spacing and dominance without escalating to combat.
Water-surface signaling: head-slaps, tail-slaps, 'water dances,' and ripples used in courtship, territoriality, and intimidation; common in many extant species.
Substrate-borne and water-borne vibrations (including 'infrasound-like' low-frequency components) that can travel through air/water; used especially during breeding-season displays in some taxa.
Chemical cues: scent from cloacal/skin glands and fecal/urine cues may contribute to recognition and reproductive signaling; strength of evidence varies by species.
Tactile interaction: nudging, snout contact, and gentle carrying/handling of hatchlings by the parent; also biting/ramming during dominance fights.
Spatial/architectural signaling: nest mounds/holes and repeated use of basking banks can function as cues of occupancy and reproductive activity; relevant across many living taxa and potentially some extinct forms where nesting occurred.

Habitat

River/Stream Lake Pond Wetland Swamp Marsh Bog Mangrove Estuary Coastal Beach Rocky Shore Open Ocean Forest Rainforest Deciduous Forest Woodland Grassland Savanna Shrubland Desert Agricultural/Farmland Urban +17
Biomes:
Freshwater Wetland Marine Tropical Rainforest Tropical Dry Forest Savanna Temperate Forest Temperate Grassland Mediterranean +3
Terrain:
Riverine Coastal Plains Valley Island Muddy Sandy +1
Elevation: Up to 4921 ft 3 in

Ecological Role

Predators spanning mesopredator to apex-predator roles across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, with some lineages functioning as omnivores/herbivores; often key regulators of vertebrate and invertebrate communities and important links between aquatic and terrestrial food webs.

population control of fish and other aquatic fauna; regulation of prey community structure carcass processing and nutrient redistribution via scavenging and prey transport between water and land trophic connectivity between aquatic and terrestrial habitats (cross-ecosystem energy flow) in some modern systems, habitat engineering and bioturbation effects via movement, trails, and nest building (context-dependent)

Diet Details

Main Prey:
Fish Crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates Insects and other terrestrial invertebrates Amphibians Turtles and other reptiles Birds Mammals Crocodylomorphs Carrion +3
Other Foods:
Plant material Fruits and seeds algae and aquatic plant matter

Human Interaction

Domestication Status

Wild

Crocodylia (Crocodylomorpha) has no truly domesticated species. People hunt, capture, farm/ranch, keep in zoos, and manage conflicts with them. Farming for skins and meat can make them used to people but not domesticated. Many extinct crocodylomorphs were varied, and none show evidence of domestication.

Danger Level

High
  • Severe injury or death from bites and drowning (risk highest with large-bodied modern crocodylians; smaller species can still cause serious injury).
  • Habituation/food-conditioning from feeding can increase approach behavior and conflict near settlements and tourist sites.
  • Nest defense and territorial aggression, especially during breeding season; risks increase near nesting banks and shallow-water entry points.
  • Occupational hazards for fishers, swimmers, and people working in wetlands/river margins; risk varies widely by region and species density.
  • Secondary risks include property damage (e.g., fencing, fish traps) and pet/livestock predation, driving retaliatory killing and conflict cycles.

As a Pet

Not Suitable as Pet

Legality: Laws vary by place. Many areas ban keeping crocodylians as pets or require strict permits, limiting them to zoos, farms, or schools. Rules cover enclosures, inspections, liability, transport, and CITES trade.

Care Level: Expert Only

Purchase Cost: Up to $2,000
Lifetime Cost: $20,000 - $250,000

Economic Value

Uses:
Wildlife ranching/farming Commercial fisheries interactions (bycatch/depredation management) Tourism and recreation Cultural value and traditional use Research and education Conservation programs
Products:
  • leather/skins (high-value luxury leather from regulated sources)
  • meat (regional markets, often farmed)
  • eggs (limited/local use; also collected for conservation/reintroduction programs in some places)
  • ecotourism (guided viewing, river safaris, wetland tourism)
  • zoo/aquarium exhibits and educational programming
  • scientific value (comparative physiology, sensory biology, bite-force/biomechanics, disease ecology, wetland ecology)

Relationships

Predators 6

Big cats Panthera
Large pythons
Large pythons Python
Large monitor lizard Varanus
Raptors and large wading birds Haliaeetus spp.; Leptoptilos spp.; Ardea spp.
Large predatory fish
Human
Human Homo sapiens

Related Species 4

Birds
Birds Aves Shared Class
Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs Pterosauria Shared Order
Non-avian dinosaurs
Non-avian dinosaurs Dinosauria Shared Order
Crocodylians
Crocodylians Crocodylia Shared Order

Ecological Equivalents 5

Animals that fill a similar ecological role in their ecosystem

Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius Shares a semi-aquatic lifestyle in rivers and lakes, uses water for thermoregulation and refuge, and can be a dominant large-bodied vertebrate affecting shoreline habitats (though its diet and feeding mechanics differ).
Large monitor lizard Varanus spp. Overlap as opportunistic predators and scavengers of vertebrates near water margins in parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia; exhibit similar ambush/strike predation in some contexts, though monitors are generally more terrestrial and lack the same aquatic specialization.
Large constrictor snakes Eunectes spp. Occupy a comparable niche as large, semi-aquatic ambush predators in tropical wetlands. Both take fish, birds, and mammals at the water's edge using stealth and rapid strikes.
Snapping turtles Chelydridae Aquatic or semiaquatic ambush predators that use sit-and-wait tactics and have powerful bite forces relative to body size. They overlap primarily in freshwater habitats and prey types, although they are typically much smaller and have different life histories.
Large predatory sharks Carcharhinus leucas Bull sharks occur in estuaries and river mouths and can overlap with large crocodylians as apex or near-apex predators feeding on fish and other vertebrates. Niche similarity is strongest in brackish systems where their ranges intersect.

Types of Crocodylomorph

27

Explore 27 recognized types of crocodylomorph

American alligator
American alligator Alligator mississippiensis
Chinese alligator
Chinese alligator Alligator sinensis
Spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus
Broad-snouted caiman Caiman latirostris
Yacaré caiman Caiman yacare
Black caiman Melanosuchus niger
Cuvier's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus
Schneider's dwarf caiman Paleosuchus trigonatus
American crocodile Crocodylus acutus
Hall's New Guinea crocodile Crocodylus halli
New Guinea crocodile Crocodylus novaeguineae
Orinoco crocodile
Orinoco crocodile Crocodylus intermedius
Freshwater crocodile
Freshwater crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni
Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis
Morelet's crocodile Crocodylus moreletii
Nile crocodile
Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
Mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris
Saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus
Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer
Siamese crocodile Crocodylus siamensis
West African crocodile (desert/West African Nile crocodile complex) Crocodylus suchus
West African slender-snouted crocodile Mecistops cataphractus
Central African slender-snouted crocodile Mecistops leptorhynchus
Dwarf crocodile
Dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis
Congo dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus osborni
False gharial Tomistoma schlegelii
Gharial
Gharial Gavialis gangeticus

“Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.”

Crocodylomorph Facts

  • Crocodylomorphs such as crocodiles and alligators live in tropical areas of 5 continents today.
  • They first evolved around 200 million years ago and survived extinction events to the present day.
  • The largest living species is the Saltwater crocodile, with a record-breaking example that grew to 23 feet long and 2,600 pounds.
  • Many animals feed on young crocodylomorphs. Large ones are hunted by humans, big cats, and giant snake species.
  • Some crocodylomorphs are extinct, others are in various stages of endangerment, while others are of “Least Concern” for extinction.

Crocodylomorph Scientific Name

The name “crocodylomorph” is derived from Greek. The word kroko means “pebble” and delios means worm. Putting them together, Greeks referred to crocodiles as “pebble worms” because of the rock-like appearance of their skin. “Morph” is a suffix also derived from Greek, meaning “shape.” In zoological classification, this suffix is added to names of animals at the level of infraorder or higher. Modern crocodiles and alligators are categorized as being in the Reptilia class and Crocodilia order.

Description & Size

Crocodile in salt water

Today, the largest crocodylmorph is the saltwater crocodile, that can grow to nearly 23 feet and weigh over 2,600 pounds.

©Alexander Machulskiy/Shutterstock.com

“Crocodylomorph” is a term for an animal group that includes not only ancient extinct species but 26 living species of crocodiles, alligators, and similar animals. Today, the largest species is the saltwater crocodile, that can grow to nearly 23 feet and weigh over 2,600 pounds. The largest prehistoric species discovered was Sarcosuchus imperator, that measured 40 feet long and weight 17,600 pounds.

Some of the earliest species walked on two legs and were herbivores. All surviving modern species are quadrupedal carnivores. They are generally solitary except during mating season when they gather in groups. Reproduction is by laying eggs. They are generally cannibalistic, with babies being particularly vulnerable to being eaten by unrelated adults.

Crocodylomorph Evolution and History

Crocodylomorphs are less diverse today than they were in ancient times. Early crocodylomorphs, called sphenosuchians, were small, lightweight, fast-moving land animals that walked upright. Many of these were less than 4 feet long. Some researchers describe them as having slender builds like greyhounds.  

In the Jurassic period, they evolved into a variety of forms and moved into new habitats, including swamps, rivers, and the ocean. Some of these grew to be 26 feet or more in length. For example, Metriorhynchus had a tail like a fish and paddle-like forelimbs.

By the Cretaceous period, some crocodylomorphs were herbivorous, such as Simosuchus clarki and Chimaerasuchus paradoxus. Others were vicious carnivorous predators.

About 95 million years ago in the late Cretaceous, the crocodilians appeared. Along with birds, these are the only members of the Archosauria group to survive the mass extinction event that killed most of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Crocodilians today include crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and the gharial.

Sarcosuchus imperator

There is abundant fossil evidence for this ancient and populous group of creatures. Crocodylomorph fossils have been discovered on every continent except Antarctica.

©iStock.com/Homo Cosmicos

Diet -What did Crocodylomorph Eat?

Some early crocodylomorphs were herbivores, but the vast majority were carnivores, including those that have survived to the modern day. What they ate depended on their size. Babies and smaller adult species ate fish, insects, eggs, and smaller animals, including those of their own species. Large ancient species ate dinosaurs, sea turtles, large fish, and any other animals on land or sea they could catch.

Similarly, modern crocodylomorphs such as crocodiles, alligators, and caimans feed on fish, birds, turtles, snakes, mammals, and any other creature that wanders too close to the water. They have also been known to eat pets and even human beings.

Habitat – When and Where It Lived

The first crocodylomorphs evolved around 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic and Early Jurassic periods. Fossil discoveries are on every continent. This includes many thousands in Europe where no living crocodylomorphs exist in the wild anymore.

Today about 26 species with over 6 million individuals are still alive today in tropical regions of the world. The largest populations of living crocodylomorphs are found in the southern United States, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Australia.

Threats And Predators

Crocodylomorphs can be prey for any carnivores larger than themselves, including dinosaurs and sharks in ancient times and big cats such as lions, tigers, and jaguars or giant snakes such as pythons or anacondas today. They are also cannibalistic, eating others of their own species at times. Any meat-eating species may feed on their eggs and babies.

Historically, the greatest threat to crocodylomorphs has been mass extinction events, including asteroid impacts and climate change. However, they have been so adept at filling so many different environmental niches on land and sea that they have outlived the dinosaurs and continue to thrive today in tropical climates worldwide.

The greatest threats to them today come from loss of habitat, such as draining swamps and deforestation to expand human agriculture and settlement, and from hunting. Humans use them for food and tan their hides for high-end luxury goods such as shoes, belts, and handbags. Some species of crocodylomorphs are near extinction today, while others are at various levels of threat of extinction. Still others are plentiful. The American alligator, for example, was endangered until a conservation program implemented in the 1960’s allowed them to begin multiplying again. Its conservation status is now “Least Concern.” In the Everglades of Florida, expanding populations of escaped reticulated pythons are vying with alligators for the status of apex predator. 

Discoveries and Fossils – Where It was Found

There is abundant fossil evidence for this ancient and populous group of creatures. Crocodylomorph fossils have been discovered on every continent except Antarctica. Specific countries where they have been found include Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bengal, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, UK and the USA.

The Natural History Museum of London maintains a large collection of over 5,000 specimens gathered from all over the world. Many of these are individual bones but others are complete skeletons that reveal a great deal of detail about the living animal.

Extinction – When Did It Die Out?

Crocodylomorphs never completely died out, as there are some 26 species still alive today. However, there were many prehistoric species that went extinct throughout history. Crocodylomorphs survived major dinosaur extinction events at the end of the Triassic and Cretaceous periods. Birds, thought to be descendants from dinosaurs, are another branch of the evolutionary tree that survived with them to modern times. 

Similar Animals to the Crocodylomorph

Similar animals to the crocodylomorph include:

  • Batrachopus grandis – an extinct crocodylomorph ancestor approximately 3 feet long that walked on two legs. No fossils exist; we know of it fossil trackways of over footprints in South Korea.
  • Komodo dragon – a member of the monitor lizard family indigenous to several islands in Indonesia. It grows up to 10 feet long and weighs up to 150 pounds.
  • Iguana – This herbivorous lizard species lives in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They can grow up to 6 feet long and make popular pets.

 Related Animals

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Sources

  1. UCMP Berkeley / Accessed December 7, 2022
  2. Wikipedia / Accessed December 9, 2022
  3. Wiktionary.org / Accessed December 9, 2022
Drew Wood

About the Author

Drew Wood

Drew is a college professor and freelance writer who graduated from the University of Virginia. His travels have taken him to 25 countries and 44 states, where he has enjoyed learning about wildlife in a wide range of environments. In addition to his love of animals, he enjoys scary movies, landscaping, strategy games, and philosophical discussions over a cup of coffee. He is also an emotional support human to a neurotic Spanish Water Dog and a hyperactive Chihuahua mix.

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