According to a recent study by a team of researchers from the University of Tennessee, Charles Darwin University in Australia and the University of Florida, although crocodiles have no morphological features that indicate such an ability, some species can climb trees.
According to a recent study by a team of researchers from the University of Tennessee, Charles Darwin University in Australia and the University of Florida, although crocodiles have no morphological features that indicate such an ability, some species can climb trees.
After observing crocodiles in Australia, Africa, and North America, researchers found that four species are able to climb trees, usually on branches that are extended above water.
Smaller crocs can climb further out on a branch than larger ones, and the behavior was observed during the day and at night (1,6,1) with some animals climbing up to 13 feet high.
This is the first in depth study of crocs climbing trees.
The authors of the study wrote: “The most frequent observations of tree-basking were in areas where there were few places to bask on the ground, implying that the individuals needed alternatives for regulating their body temperature. Likewise, their wary nature suggests that climbing leads to improved site surveillance of potential threats and prey.”
The fearsome animals reportedly dropped off their branches into the water when they were approached by researchers.
