www.gandul.ro/actualitate/supravietuire-crocodili-

Recent research indicates that the ancestors of alligators and crocodiles thrived in warm climates during mass extinctions, aiding their survival after the asteroid impact that killed non-avian dinosaurs. The study, led by Dr. Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza, analyzed over 400 species and fossil records, revealing that these reptiles maintained consistent temperature preferences despite significant evolutionary changes. Their optimal temperature was around 23 degrees Celsius, while modern crocodilians prefer 26 to 30 degrees. The findings suggest that their long-standing affinity for warm environments allowed them to survive in refuges during climatic shifts, unlike non-avian dinosaurs, which faced habitat loss. The study highlights the importance of habitat mobility for current species in the face of climate change.