These tiny creatures relied on dead leaves and bark falling from the trees or being washed in from other places. Our ancestors were able to survive the asteroid partly because they didn’t depend on plants for food.
In fact, it’s likely that our ancestors were able to survive on a diet of dead plants and dead animals, because the plants they ate were likely to have been dead for a long time, and the animals they killed were probably already dead by the time they arrived on the scene.
In other words, they probably had plenty of time to get used to eating dead things, even if they had to eat a lot of them.
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How have alligators survive so long?
Crocodiles have cold-blooded metabolisms that allow them to live for long periods of time without food or water.
The crocodile’s diet consisted mainly of fish – Check the list below
- But it also ate small mammals
- Reptiles
- Amphibians
- Birds
- Lizards
- Snakes
- Crocodiles
- Turtles
- Fish eggs
- Frogs
- Salamanders
- Crayfish
- Sea urchins
- Crustaceans
- Snails
- Worms
- Mollusks
- Other invertebrates
Crocodiles were also known to eat insects and small vertebrates, such as frogs and tadpoles, as well as birds and mammals.
They also preyed on other reptiles and amphibian species, especially those that lived in the warm waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
How did alligators survive but dinosaurs didn t?
According to new research, crocodiles survived the asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs because of theirversatile and efficient body shape. In terms of temperature and salinity, crocodiles can live in almost any weather. They are cold-blooded and can live up to eight years.
However, some species are more suited to wet, cold conditions, such as crocodylians, which can be found all over the world in tropical and subtropical areas, and may also be able to use dry, rocky habitats as living quarters. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, also found that crocodiles have evolved a number of adaptations that help them survive the harsh conditions of the deep sea.
These include the ability to store water in their body cavities, as well as a specialised digestive system that helps them digest their food.
How many extinctions have alligators survived?
Crocodilians have survived two mass extinction events, one 66 million years ago and the other 33 million years ago, when the dinosaurs were wiped out by an asteroid.
“Crocodiles have been around for a very long time, and they’ve adapted very well to their environment,” said study co-author and University of California, Santa Cruz, paleontologist David Evans.
Why did sharks survive when dinosaurs didn t?
Having a skeleton made of lightweight cartilage allows sharks to conserve energy and swim long distances. Most of what scientists know about ancient sharks comes from their teeth, scales and other bones, because shark skeletons are soft and don’t fossilize well.
The new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to use CT scans to examine the skeleton of a shark. The researchers used a CT scanner to scan the shark’s entire skeleton, from the head to the tail, and then used computer software to create a 3-D model of that skeleton.
Did alligators exist with dinosaurs?
The ancient ancestors of crocodiles and alligators are almost unchanged from modern times. The animals you can see today were almost identical to the animals that existed at the same time.
In fact, the oldest known crocodile fossils date back to a time when the Earth was much warmer than it is today.
That’s because the oceans were much more acidic than they are today, which would have made it difficult for the animals to survive in the acidic waters of today’s oceans.
How did snakes survive the dinosaur extinction?
Most animals and plants died as a result of the impact. Scientists a few snake species were able to survive in a post- apocalyptic world by hiding underground and adapting to their new environment. “It’s a very exciting time to be studying snakes,” said study co-author and University of California, Santa Cruz, entomologist David C. Williams.
Why are alligators not dinosaurs?
These animals were able to walk on land because they did not have a hole in their hip socket. During this time, the dinosaurs were still around, but they were much smaller than they are today. The dinosaurs that lived during this period included the Velociraptor, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, T-Rex, and many others. These animals were the ancestors of all modern-day animals, including humans.
Did Sharks survive the dinosaur extinction?
During the end-cretaceous extinction event, many of the life forms became extinct, but sharks persisted. Even though they were still affected, they were still affected. Many of the shark species that lived in the oceans at that time were killed off by the asteroid strike.
“Sharks have been around for a long time, and they’re not going to go away anytime soon,” said study co-author David Evans, a professor of geology and geophysics at UC Santa Cruz.
How long have alligators been on Earth?
The first alligator ancestors were around 245 million years ago. crocodilians appeared around 80 million years ago. This group includes alligatoroids, as well as their close relatives. Alligators have a long snout, large jaws, and powerful jaws that can tear through soft tissue. Their skin is tough and waterproof, making them excellent swimmers.
