Crocodyliformia

Crocodyliformia is a clade of tetrapod reptiles that includes all living crocodiles, alligators, caimans, gharials, and their extinct relatives. The group is characterized by a long snout, powerful jaws, and a heavily armored body. Fossil evidence indicates that crocodyliforms first appeared in the Late Cretaceous period and have survived multiple mass extinction events, making them among the oldest surviving lineages of reptiles. Modern crocodyliforms are primarily aquatic or semi-aquatic predators found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They exhibit a wide range of sizes, from the small dwarf crocodile to the massive saltwater crocodile. Their diet typically consists of fish, birds, and mammals, which they ambush with a rapid strike. Reproduction is oviparous, with females laying eggs in nests, often constructed from vegetation and mud. Crocodyliforms play a significant role in their ecosystems as apex predators. The group is divided into two main suborders: Eusuchia, which includes all living crocodyliforms, and the extinct Notosuchia and Mesoeucrocodylia. Many extinct crocodyliforms possessed unique adaptations, such as terrestrial lifestyles or specialized diets, which are not seen in their modern descendants.