Is a crocodile a dinosaur?all pages

nation world news – Crocodiles and alligators are often referred to as “living fossils” because of their physical resemblance to dinosaurs.

Crocodiles and dinosaurs had scaly skin, sharp teeth, and long, pointed tails.

Also, some prehistoric animals were ancestors of crocodiles until they evolved into the modern crocodiles known today.

If so, are crocodiles a dinosaur?

crocodile before dinosaur

When dinosaurs first appeared, close relatives of crocodiles were thought to have existed before or at the same time as dinosaurs.

reported from az animals, The ancestors of crocodiles can be traced back to the Triassic period 240 million years ago, the same period when dinosaurs first evolved.

Paleontologist Bharat-Anjan Bhullar has discovered two fossils dating back to the Triassic period in Utah.

The remains of the entire poposaurs provide clues to the crocodile’s earliest relatives. Apparently, this wave was walking on its hind legs, straight like a Tyrannosaurus rex.

Another characteristic of the modern crocodile-like poposaur was that it had a long snout and sharp teeth.

The fossils date back to an era before dinosaurs became popular, such as when Tyrannosaurus Rex was alive.

Meanwhile, modern crocodiles, scientifically part of the order Crocodile, first appeared around 95 million years ago.

30 million years before the extinction of the dinosaurs.

freepik.com/naypong Crocodile illustration

So, are crocodiles a living dinosaur?

Crocodiles and birds are the two living members of Archosauria.

Crocodiles are not dinosaurs, but crocodiles and dinosaurs belong to the archosaur class.

Archosaur is a reptile that includes birds, crocodiles, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs.

Modern birds are descended from feathered dinosaurs that evolved over the past 65 million years. Meanwhile, crocodiles evolved from reptiles that existed before dinosaurs.

Similarities Between Crocodiles and Dinosaurs

Crocodiles and dinosaurs have little in common. These things allow crocodiles to survive and adapt to today’s environment.

Here are some similarities between crocodiles and dinosaurs:

• cold blooded
• big
• sharp teeth
• cheeky
• spawning