University of Tennessee researchers found that some crocodilian species are capable of climbing trees, though they retreat to the waters when they sense danger.
Crocodiles and alligators are only seen climbing trees, singing and dancing in cartoons and animated films. While they may not be capable of singing and dancing in real life, some crocodilian species are capable of climbing trees, a new study finds.
Researchers from University of Tennessee, Knoxville made this discovery after studying crocodilian species from Australia, Africa and North America. For their research, they also took into consideration previous studies conducted on this species. They found that four species - Siamese crocodiles, Philippine crocodiles, Central African slender-snouted crocodiles and the American alligator - were capable of climbing trees.
The distance and speed at which they climb usually depends on their size. Smaller species can climb up to 10 meters in height.
"Climbing a steep hill or steep branch is mechanically similar, assuming the branch is wide enough to walk on," the authors wrote in a press statement. "Still, the ability to climb vertically is a measure of crocodiles' spectacular agility on land."
Researchers observed that whenever they saw anything approaching them, the reptiles jumped back into the water. This led researchers to speculate that these reptiles climb trees either for thermoregulation or surveillance of habitat.
"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," the authors said. "Likewise, their wary nature suggests that climbing leads to improved site surveillance of potential threats and prey."
Researchers were not able to determine any obvious morphological adaptations that allowed only some crocodilian species to climb trees.
"These results should be taken into account by paleontologists who look at changes in fossils to shed light on behavior," said Vladimir Dinets, a research assistant professor in the Department of Psychology. "This is especially true for those studying extinct crocodiles or other Archosaurian taxa."
Findings of the study were published in the journal Herpetology Notes.
