Overview

• Crocodylomorphs, the ancestors of modern crocodilians, survived the end-Triassic and end-Cretaceous mass extinctions due to their generalist diets and habitat adaptability.
• A study published in *Palaeontology* is the first to map the dietary ecology of 119 crocodylomorph species, analyzing skull and tooth morphology across 230 million years.
• Terrestrial generalists persisted through the end-Triassic extinction, while semiaquatic generalists and aquatic carnivores weathered the end-Cretaceous event, leading to today’s 26 crocodilian species.
• Researchers emphasize that habitat preservation and reduced hunting are critical to helping endangered crocodilian species survive ongoing environmental challenges.
• The findings underscore the importance of understanding traits linked to extinction survival to inform biodiversity conservation efforts during the current ecological crisis.