Science

Keeping to warm climates may have helped crocodiles outlast the dinosaurs

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Briefings

A new UCL-led study suggests crocodiles survived the asteroid impact that killed the dinosaurs by maintaining warm climates throughout their 250-million-year history. This finding challenges the traditional view that cold climates were essential for crocodilian survival during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event.

Key points

• Crocodiles maintained warm climates throughout their entire 250-million-year history, potentially aiding survival during the asteroid impact.
• The study was led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and published in October 2026.

Context

This research challenges the long-held belief that cold climates were necessary for crocodilian survival during the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, suggesting instead that warmth played a crucial role in their resilience.

Limitations

The study relies on limited paleontological evidence and does not provide definitive proof of the causal link between warm climates and crocodilian survival. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

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