Evolution Of Crocodiles And AlligatorsCrocodile Evolution: One Of The Most Ancient Animal Groups Crocodiles, Alligators, Caimans and Gavials: we have a clear picture of these creatures. They are squat, toothy and mostly very dangerous creatures. However crocodiles and their cousins did not always look like this or live the way they now live. Crocodiles arose from a very prolific and successful group of reptiles called Archosaurs. These were diapsid reptiles that expanded into a vast array of forms. This group produced the dinosaurs, birds and of course the crocodiles. So where did crocs begin? We'll probably never get an exact answer. The earliest identified crocodile ancestor was a creature that has been given the unusual name of Barbarenasuchus brasiliensis. It was part of a very large group of related and similar looking animals called the Sphenosuchia. How do researchers know Barbarenasuchus was related to crocodiles? It didn't look like a crocodile and all that is left of it are some skeletal remains. The identification of what belongs to the crocodile group is based on features of the skeleton, with the skull receiving the most attention. This is a subject that could fill a library by itself, so I'll stay away from the technicals and use this simple definition. At the time Barbarenasuchus basiliensis was running around there were already another group of reptiles living in the "crocodile" niche, meaning they were semi-aquatic ambush predators. These creatures were called phytosaurs. The ancestors of the crocodiles did not move into that niche until the phytosaurs became extinct. Return from Evolution of Crocodiles to the Reptiles Home Page.
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