Early Crocodylomorphs: The Leggy Ancestors of Modern Crocodilians

Crocodylomorphs split off from the Rauisuchids during the Late Triassic and took a different evolutionary path, often being fairly small and slender terrestrial animals. Many genera possessed elongated limbs and were adapted for running, with some being fluctuative bipeds. These forms were classified as a part of 'Sphenosuchia', a grade leading up to the more derived Crocodyliforms. The group survived the extinction event at the end of the Triassic, with the family Hallopodidae persisting until the Late Jurassic in North America. Crocodyliforms would explode in terms of diversity throughout the period and into the Cretaceous.
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[@Croationman]

I find it fascinating that a group of reptiles grew nearly as diverse and prominent during the mesozoic as the dinosaurs did. We think of that time as the era of stem bird rule but this group of animals as well as the archosaurs in the air and sea shows that it wasn’t just the dinosaur show.

[@dr.polaris6423]

That’s very true. Pseudosuchians were important components of many Mesozoic ecosystems, being far more diverse than today.

[@Croationman]

I would love a video tracing the linage of modern crocodilians and why they survived 2 mass extinctions at some point from you please.

[@chancegivens9390]

The sheer diversity of the Mesozoic is what makes it so cool then you end up realizing that all of them were reptiles which is cool to think that reptiles were once so diverse!.

[@Draco84]

Imagine a world dominated by different types of crocodilians that take up many different ecological niches that modern animals take up today.

[@THEB3A5T3294]

Age of crocodiles🖤🖤🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊

[@bkjeong4302]

They actually came close to it on multiple occasions (with competition present, too)

[@90skidcultist]

“crocodylomorphs”

[@dboot8886]

I have two wolves battling inside me... One wolf: "Thank God those aren't around!" The other wolf: "Why couldn't we still have those?!"

[@AmbuBadger]

I, too, have two wolves battling inside me. One has a structured settlement. The other needs cash now.

[@Sauron_Ghoul]

It nice to see channel give some atention to early crocodilomorphs.

[@thelaughinghyenas8465]

Both cool and fascinating. It's somewhat interesting that the crocodylomorphs appear more "evolved" or "modern" than the crocs you see in the swamps today. I guess it's bipedalism and those long limbs directly under the body.

[@dr.polaris6423]

Yep exactly. Modern crocodilians are far from living fossils but instead animals that adapted to a very specific niche, losing some of the traits their terrestrial ancestors possessed.

[@dr.floridaman4805]

@@dr.polaris6423 are those traits buried in the genome?

[@bkjeong4302]

Many lineages of crocodylomorphs reverted to being fully terrestrial: this includes some of the mekosuchine crocodilians that went extinct only recently (thanks to humans), such as Mekosuchus.

[@dr.floridaman4805]

@@bkjeong4302 keep blaming humans. If you are such a problem take yourself out of the equation. Your worldly indoctrination shows. Did man kill off the dinosaurs too? Man force mammals into the water to become whales? Did man start the ice age that we are in? Did man cause the warming of the earth as it leaves the ice age? If man is so bad why is there still Nile crocodiles?

[@spinosaurusstriker]

@@dr.floridaman4805 some of them

[@LudosErgoSum]

9:30 Not only is that piece of paleoart wonderful to look at, but it also showcase behavior of extinct animals that isn't synonymous with "prehistoric beast" with the emphasis on the 'beast' part. It's simply adorable and make the animals come alive in their own right. Reminds me of the (speculatively) playful sauropod from All Yesterdays.

[@dr.polaris6423]

I agree, it’s a wonderfully realistic depiction of extinct animal life.

[@myth4020]

man, there isnt a single video if yours you have uploaded that i havent liked. such a great channel!

[@dr.polaris6423]

Thank you so much!

[@jacklantern7479]

Another awesome vid Dr. Polaris! Would you ever consider covering the evolution of dasyuromorphia? (Quolls, thylacines, devils, etc)

[@dr.polaris6423]

Yes that’s a great idea!

[@reportedstolen3603]

Yay I love Thylas

[@chancegivens9390]

I would like that

[@kuromyou7969]

I just learned about quolls a month ago!

[@vladimirlagos2688]

Kinda felt like we ended in a cliffhanger with this one... Can't wait for the eventual follow up. Crocodile ancestors were so fascinatingly diverse.

[@dr.polaris6423]

The next Pseudosuchian video will cover both the Protosuchians and their more derived relatives. After that we will be getting into the Notosuchians, which will take several videos to cover!

[@XaeeD]

This is really funny. Earlier today I looked up your channel, because I was trying to find something interesting to watch and I thought of you, and I noticed that you hadn't released any new videos. But now this pops up in my recommended. A pleasant coincidence.

[@nikolamitrovic3841]

Bruh, same

[@lilitheden748]

When I told my nephew that crocodilians have a wide variety of ancestors he was baffled. Because it is always better to give correct info I showed him this video. He liked it very much and went on to see some other episode on your channel. Sadly these days children are not enough stimulated to discover things. To search for answers or to just find cool stuff like dinosaurs. All they want (and do) is play those XBOX games. There is so much to discover out there. When I was a child (long ago) I got fascinated by history and palaeontology. All my allowance was spend on books. Maybe I was a bit too geeky. Still I had friends who used to build these airplane maquettes. These girls knew all about the plane they built. They researched it before putting it together. … Well I hope I can keep on interesting my nephew in gathering knowledge. Having a wide knowledge is so important to understand the changing world.

[@lilitheden748]

@Dan Won I see,what you mean. It’s not so that I forced him to like dinosaurs and stuff. I just wanted to broaden his knowledge. It was his choice to continue watching the channel. If he wouldn’t have liked it well then so be it. You can’t make someone like things. About playing games, he does play a lot. His mum complains about it. It’s maybe because of the isolation. When playing he can speak and interact with his friends and I guess that is the attraction of it. I know that playing games doesn’t make people stupid and can make them interested in programming or developing games and such. There have to be also other interests and those can vary from sports to painting or horseback riding… It changes the way you look at the world and in a way makes you the person you are.

[@DineroSucio754]

Not true, kids still seek knowledge, not as much but they still do, im gen z and I've always loved researching about animals whether it be on TV or on the internet or just reading books. And alot of my friends are the same specially when I was a child.

[@lilitheden748]

@@DineroSucio754 well than you a very smart young man who knows to appreciate the value of knowledge.

[@enon8116]

Hi

[@valivali8104]

"New generation is worse than our generation at same age" said at least since ancient Greece...

[@dynamosaurusimperious2718]

Dr. Polaris only give the best information by some of the most weirdest,unique & awesome prehistoric group of animals,also I love the high heel crocs,they're very cool. Also I hope y'all are having a good day

[@jonathan_narain1189]

I always thought Rauisuchians were Crocodolymorphs, this is the first time I heard they’re not the same kinds of creatures.

[@dr.polaris6423]

Recent studies have tended to place Rauisuchids as the sister group to Crocodylomorphs.

[@jonathan_narain1189]

@@dr.polaris6423 ooooo gotcha, I should look into those studies. Also I’ve a question I’ve meaning to ask you for a very long time. In your Phytosaurs videos, you said they were some Non Phytosaurid Phytosaurs. What exactly does that mean?

[@LuisAldamiz]

I can sorta see the Cuban crocodile re-evolving into this if there's opportunity.

[@DazedAlligator]

I think global warming could possibly help encourage a surge of diversification in reptiles. Would be fascinating to see some terrestrial crocs in modern times. Preferably smaller ones though haha

[@BorderWise12]

Ah yes, the leggy not-entirely-crocs! Good show! Really looking forward to the next video, more saber-tooths are always good. 👍

[@dr.polaris6423]

Thanks!

[@xuanluu4873]

Wonder how the cretaceous or the cenozoic could have been like if these early crocodylimorphs survived for longer

[@wowdude6625]

It's weird why the quadruped version didn't keep going, it just seems like it would get a ton of new niches when the dinos died

[@kaprosuchussaharicus931]

like the content of the next vid. I think you should make one about thylacosmilus

[@xuanluu4873]

Good video today! Keep up the great work, man!

[@OviraptorFan]

Ah yes, the leggy bois. A shame they seemed to die out by the end of the Jurassic, but at least some fast running crocodyliformes lasted much longer!

[@MarkVrem]

It can only probably run like 50 feet and then quickly tire. Crocodiles are so chronic fatigue man.

[@chrisdonish]

@@MarkVrem there were terrestial crocodiles during the cretaceous.

[@chancegivens9390]

Absolutely fantastic video sah!.

[@alenezi989a3]

That was very informative and interesting thank you.

[@maldambao6126]

"Can we get vintage dinosaurs?" "We have vintage dinosaurs at home" The vintage dinosaurs at home:

[@jointcerulean3350]

Great coverage, crocodylomorphs are incredibly awesome and diverse, especially the notosuchians which is awesome you plan to cover. Also who do you think would win? Jack the Ripper or The Carolina butcher? My money’s on Carnufex, the Carolina butcher.

[@ai97Nord]

I can't really imagine if the bidepal walking crocs still exist on modern days.

[@obiomajronyekwere4469]

Huh never knew these wierd crocs existed

[@immaguy7905]

Then you would love to know about the simosuchus aka the pug croc

[@chicagopianou86]

Another great video thanks!

[@melvinshine9841]

Probably be horrible pets, but I'd try to keep a dog-croc. I'd get it a harness, take it on regular walks and everything.

[@mercuryatamolos3687]

Can we expect any updates on alter earth soon?

[@timothymoore8549]

If early Crocodylomorphs were do like on appearance and niche then I’d like to propose we name one Dingo Dilus

[@cottton]

Id love to see a video on megalosaurs they flourished during the jurassic but they just kinda dissapeared in the cretetaecous or so i think Since i havent seen a single megalosaur from after the jurassic.

[@cottton]

@Desert Rambler yeah but they filled a whole different niche (Also yes kinda late reply but hey)

[@maozilla9149]

Good show

[@aronmolnar309]

I always wondered, were these crocodilomorphs cold blooded like modern crocodiles, or warm blooded?

[@Filbi]

I like to think that Carnufex could be the ancestor of the scaly tail-dragging "Retrosaurs" from old movies.

[@5nokli]

Thank you for the informative video! I wish we could have seen such fascinating animals. Imagine if all these crocodylomorphs had survived into the Jurassic!

[@salamut2202]

It's hard to imagine how bipeds move plantigrade when their spine is parallel to the ground

[@HexaDecimus]

Carnufex is a pretty Badass name

[@kingofcherries4357]

T-rex: "I will not fuck the Alligators." A few beers later: 1:57

[@alifakmal4465]

Can you make video Abbout the evolution of Tiger Species someday plss

[@dr.polaris6423]

That’s a good idea! I’ll keep that in mind.

[@alifakmal4465]

@@dr.polaris6423 thank you

[@alifakmal4465]

@@dr.polaris6423 because The evolution of big cat is kinda e mystery their is proof that big cat evolfe in Africa because of lion and cheetah but tiger and Snow leopard evolfe in Asia ,like hyenadon their is two spesies ,genus or maybe colony evolfe in asia and africa if iam not mistaken .

[@kaprosuchussaharicus931]

Yes thats a good thought

[@ramonjr.intong5376]

yes please, tiger evolution is somewhat of a mystery since they somehow evolve in the jungles of asia. it would be great how those tigers evolved into the strongest and ferocious cats ever

[@carmelosaurus7480]

Quick question do you think early crocodylomorphs would have had lips? Or no lips?

[@darkmistico]

lips? arent they only for mamals?

[@manospondylus]

@@darkmistico Many living reptiles, such as lizards, have lips in the sense of a thin, immobile band of scales covering their teeth. Modern crocodilians are actually unique for not having them

[@dr.polaris6423]

It’s possible that certain extinct Pseudosuchians did possess fleshy lips, with modern crocodilians having lost this feature.

[@carmelosaurus7480]

@Leonard squirrel Nope, I meant lips nothing more nothing less. Ben G Thomas Did T-Rex have lips kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKrSqYOho9VpbZI E.D.G.E. Did Spinosaurus have lips? kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX3NnYemotxkaZo

[@carmelosaurus7480]

@@dr.polaris6423 Thank you for answering, my question and I have one more if that’s alright. Would, you ever be interested in making your own video discussing the topic of Lips? Vs No Lips?

[@cosmo6122]

Yep yep. Love this Chan el

[@khilorn]

Holy crap gatroclaws from fallout 4 were real

[@eliletts1680]

I wonder if the dog-like and bipedal crocodiles were cold blooded like their living relatives or warm-blooded, or perhaps luke-warm blooded? 🤔

[@robyrcmp]

TURN YOUR RECORDING VOLUME UP!

[@andywomack3414]

Note the artwork used to represent these extinct animals. Keep in mind that those representations are products of anatomical knowledge and imagination. I am old enough to remember when dinosaurs were more like lizards, alligators and snakes than birds.

[@kaox44]

@2:32 "We are the gay Crocodylomorphs"

[@claptomanic684]

What background music is used here? Somehow I do think of WoW.

[@sylvesterstanton7488]

So glad I wasn't around back then!!

[@chazsaw]

A lot of these put me in mind of Australian varanids.

[@MathisBrothers2275]

The Monsterverse Godzilla could be descended from archosaurian reptiles similar to these.

[@SonicSanctuary]

now there is a thought.

[@oliverwilson11]

4:05 fluctuative? Do you mean facultative?

[@owenwildish331]

It's a silly question maybe and unlikely to ever happen, not that I'm asking if it could happen but I wonder what might happen if and how would the world really react if somehow in a remote, isolated and barely explored region an actual medium-sized, non-avian, living dinosaur was really and very publicly discovered and captured (perhaps a totally unknown surviving species and/or maybe something that was considered a cryptid previously, though not necessarily so)..?

[@Thunder_Bird0]

Looks like Godzillasaurus from Godzilla VS King Ghidorah 1991.

[@lightningboltt5437]

Dr Polaris Can you do a video on jawless fish

[@chernoalpha1280]

Great video, but you sound like Brian Butterfield.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I fail to see how this animal was bipedal given its obvious weight distribution !

[@jasonsantos3037]

Yeah there was a time crocodile used to walk on 2 legs

[@beroka1462]

Wow hes just like me fr!

[@phaslow4393]

I enjoy this channel and despite my misgivings I look forward to your videos. I do feel that your professional knowledge and interesting narrative deserves more than the dorky intro music and that retarted looking bear popping up every so often.

[@Legodingbatvideogame]

So it's somehow less weird that some Floridians adopt gators. Huh.

[@rursus8354]

Crocodogs.

[@mimikyutheghostfairytype5144]

A real life dinocroc

[@TedShatner10]

Phytosaurs were so much like the Crocodylomorphs.

[@tengen2251]

To think that we have so biased vision of psudosuchians as amphibios animals. Until recently we had quinkana in australia. If modern civilization had that creature this story of living fossil wouldn't survive.

[@ramptonarsecandle]

I see a lone creationist has popped in to down vote this.

[@bartekdraszawk4315]

What happend to alter earth?

[@thisisnami6054]

Man..., Kaprosuchus and Postosuchus are the most famous out of these reptiles and aren't in this video :,V

[@yatusabesnetaquesabe679]

Interesante 😊😊😊

[@ryggamortis7594]

I feel like if there was a real godzilla hed a mutated descendant of these

[@williamcarmichael3527]

Wow

[@flightlesslord2688]

Carnufex... is a way cooler name than dinocroc

[@GreenHavenFarms]

The rodent version of crocodiles!

[@Serpentking789]

RETROSAURS!!

[@julianshepherd2038]

Cheerio

[@ODJJ-77.83]

45

[@mrnickbig1]

At 3:56, there is a claim that the depicted animal is equal to a Border Collie in size, when it is obviously FAR smaller!

[@halloranedward]

Get a different narrator.

[@bryaneberly3588]

I'm so nerdy that though I want to enjoy the superimposed creatures on real backgrounds (a la AR), I can't because there are flowers and grasses and those would NOT have been present at the time. Sad face.

[@Bake-kurijra]

Is 13 feet bigger or smaller then T. rex ?

[@lillipton8838]

Shorter than rex