Crocodylia

Crocodylia is the reptile group containing living crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials, along with their extinct relatives. Its members share a long evolutionary history and distinctive adaptations to aquatic predation.

Crocodyliformes: A broad group of crocodylomorph reptiles that includes Crocodylia and many extinct relatives. Crocodylia sits within this larger group of crocodile-line reptiles.
Secondary palate: A bony partition separating the nasal passage from the mouth in many vertebrates. It lets crocodilians breathe through the nose while holding prey underwater.
Saltwater crocodile: The largest living crocodilian species, native to coastal and river habitats from South Asia to Australia. It exemplifies the size and salt tolerance found among true crocodiles.
Crocodylian evolution: The evolutionary history of Crocodylia and its changing diversity through geological time. It follows the lineage from early crocodylians to living species.
Crocodilian conservation: Efforts to protect crocodilian species, habitats, and populations from extinction and decline. Habitat loss and hunting threaten several species across the order.
Crocodylomorpha: The archosaur group comprising crocodilians and their extinct relatives. This broader lineage places Crocodylia among archosaurs.
Four-chambered heart: A heart with two atria and two ventricles, separating pulmonary and systemic circulation. Crocodilians have a four-chambered heart with a shunt that can redirect blood flow.
American alligator: A large alligator native to the southeastern United States. Its recovery from severe hunting pressure is a notable conservation case.
Crocodylian phylogeny: The inferred branching relationships among living and extinct crocodilians. Phylogenetic trees clarify relationships among the order’s living families and fossil groups.
Crocodile farming: The captive breeding and raising of crocodilians, often for skins and meat. Regulated farming has been used to reduce pressure on some wild populations.

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