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Crocodilians as Living Fossils

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Living Fossils

Part of the book series: Casebooks in Earth Sciences ((CASEBOOKS))

Abstract

Nile crocodiles and American alligators belong to a group of reptiles called broad-nosed crocodilians. In the warmer parts of the world, broad-nosed crocodilians are the largest predators to walk on land. They are living fossils in the sense that they resemble ancient forms in the shapes and the ruggedness of their heads and bodies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA

    Eugene R. Meyer

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  1. Eugene R. Meyer
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  1. Department of Invertebrates, The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 10024, New York, NY, USA

    Niles Eldredge

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University, 21218, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Steven M. Stanley

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Meyer, E.R. (1984). Crocodilians as Living Fossils. In: Eldredge, N., Stanley, S.M. (eds) Living Fossils. Casebooks in Earth Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8271-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8271-3_11

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