if a meteor wiped out life including sea going dinosaurs why are crocodiles still here?

Answer 1

Have you any proof that a meteor did? It is all speculation. As far as I see it, it might be that dinosaurs just died out because they were defeated by preditors that came on the scene, like man....

Answer 2

Interesting question. I looked into this recently myself, out of curiosity. There are a number of theories about this, but the facts actually help explain this.

Just to clarify something before moving on though - dinosaurs did not live in the sea. The giant sea reptiles - mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs - were closely related to dinosaurs, but were not actually dinosaurs. The ichthyosaurs went extinct well before the meteor which wiped out the dinosaurs hit. The other groups did survive until the meteor struck.

However one very interesting fact that is not quite as well known about the so-called KT extinction event is that although dinosaurs and other large land animals went extinct and almost 70% of sea water life went extinct, freshwater ecosystems were left largely untouched. Crocodiles are largely freshwater reptiles and as such this fits in with their being the only large reptiles to survive the extinction event.

Explanations for this sparing of freshwater ecosystems vary - some have suggested that acid rain that fell due to the meteor could be blocked out by a compound called larnite. It has also been suggested that freshwater ecosystems are less sensitive to plant loss - and plants die when the sun is blocked out by meteor debris. Finally, crocodiles are well known for their ability to survive for prolonged periods of time without eating.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

It's never been suggested that a meteor impact wiped out all life... remember the small mammals were already around. Also, crocodiles are reptiles, not dinosaurs. Birds may be descendents of true dinosaurs, which would mean that some dinosaurs did survive.

Aloha

Answer 4

Crocodiles existed in forms remarkably similar to modern crocodiles even then.

They survived the impact.

This is not to say that the crocodiles simply waltzed on through life as if nothing had happened while the dinosaurs died around them. More likely, the crocs were better equipped to survive the impact and its aftermath. Suppose the meteor killed 100% of all dinosaurs and 80% of all crocodiles. Enough crocodiles survived to continue as a species - as did enough of other kinds of reptiles, and mammals including our own direct ancestors.

Answer 5

This was just a theory! It is not actually known as to what wiped them off the map! Crocodiles, sharks and a number of others are hardcore survivers of the meteor. Their success is about their ability to survive the harsh conditions and are able to be scavengers (they are not picky like other animals!)

Answer 6

Great question and great answers so far. I asked a similar question I've included as a link. It was my understanding the plant life and trees that were in swamps were protected and the animals burrowed to survive. Crocodile can dig out burrows to put their eggs in to this day.

Answer 7

Because crocodiles aren't dinosaurs.

Answer 8

it wasn't a total extintion, it was only a fairly large one. The most vulnerable creatures would have been large land animals, hence why the dinosaurs died out. Crocs' ancestors were (we presume) little, semi-aquatic dinousars, like those of iguanas and turtles (also not dead).

Answer 9

They are not dinosaurs.

Answer 10

You want a snappy answer!