The ability of crocodiles to make swift, but short attacking throws on land was known for a long time. However, a new study of American zoologists showed that crocodiles, in fact, perfectly hide their potential. In reality, these awkward reptiles can run at a very high speed and, more importantly, in different styles.
Scientists installed hidden video cameras in the Florida Zoological Park to watch crocodiles when they do not suspect anything. Dozens of cases when reptiles switched to running, some developed speed up to 18 km/h. In total, scientists studied the behavior of 42 individuals of 15 different types of crocodiles, kayman and alligators.
Alligators and kaymans, for reasons unknown so far, ran quickly, but primitively, awkwardly. However, at least eight species of crocodiles showed other techniques: racing and gallop. In the first case, the animal is pushed away by the front pair of paws while the back is still in the air, and then repeats this movement, on the contrary. In the gallop, all paws move asymmetrically, striking on the ground alternately. This is the fastest way to move for many animals, but in the execution of crocodiles he was seen by almost the first time in history. The video is exactly the first one of its kind.
The less a specific individual was, the easier it was to raise her paws, and the better she galloped. This is probably a demonstration of the protective evolutionary mechanism, which gives small individuals a chance to survive, while a large alligator relies on the strength of their jaws. So far, the data is collected too little, but the experiment continues.
Source — Scientific Reports