Reptiles, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 30, 2020

Alligators can regrow their tails, surprising scientists

Cornered by a dangerous predator, a gecko can self-amputate its still twitching tail, creating a fleeting moment of distraction - a chance for the lizard to flee with its life. Small reptiles such as geckos and skinks are well known for this remarkable ability to sacrifice and then rapidly regrow...

Dec 23, 2020

Ancient 'swamp king' monster croc once terrorized Australia

A monster croc spanning 16 feet (5 meters) ruled the waterways of south-eastern Queensland in Australia millions of years ago. Researchers from the University of Queensland identified the reptilian giant — now dubbed “swamp king — after studying its fossilized 25-inch-long (65 centimeters) skull, which was first uncovered in the...

Feb 17, 2021

Giant 14-foot-long crocodile found with human remains in stomach

Human remains have been found inside the stomach of a 14-foot-long (4.2 meters) crocodile on an island north of Queensland, Australia. According to local authorities, the remains likely belong to Andrew Heard, a 69-year-old fisherman who went missing from the area on Feb. 11. Heard was last seen that Thursday...

Feb 27, 2021

Alligators in Oklahoma turn into 'popsicles' sticking out of the frozen water

Oklahomans came face-to-face with popsicle-like alligators — reptiles whose snouts were sticking straight out of the icy water — when the cold snap hit the American South this month. But why were these alligators snorkeling in such cold weather? Why weren't they sunning on the banks or hiding in their...

Apr 29, 2021

Mystery of extinct horned crocodile solved after 150 years

After almost 150 years of controversy, scientists have finally solved the classification mystery surrounding the extinct horned crocodile and determined exactly where this cryptic croc belongs on the tree of life. The extinct horned crocodiles (Voay robustus) were endemic to Madagascar as far back as 9,000 years ago and lived...

Aug 25, 2021

Eerie albino alligator babies hatched at Florida animal park

What's tiny, toothy and devoid of pigment? Two new baby albino alligators born at a wildlife attraction in Florida. The rare reptiles hatched this summer at Wild Florida in Kenansville, Florida. They're the babies of 27-year-old Snowflake and 16-year-old Blizzard, a pair of albino alligators the zoo and safari park...

Sep 16, 2021

Human remains found inside 500-pound alligator. How common are alligator attacks?

An enormous alligator is suspected of killing a man in Louisiana, according to news reports. Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recently captured the alligator around the neighborhood of Avery Estates, not far from where 71-year-old Timothy Satterlee Sr. went...

Oct 22, 2021

How are alligators and crocodiles different?

All alligators and crocodiles belong to a taxonomic order called Crocodylia. Crocodylia is then split up into three major families; Alligatoridae (alligators), Crocodylidea (crocodile) and Gavialidae (gharial), according to the journal Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals. These Crocodylia share a common evolutionary ancestor; however, around 80 million years ago...

Dec 8, 2021

Jurassic crocodile relative could breathe easily while drowning its prey

Around 155 million years ago in what is now Wyoming, a crocodile relative clamped its jaws around a thrashing animal and dragged it below the water's surface, and the ancient reptile could still breathe comfortably as its prey slowly drowned. That's because the croc had specialized structures that prevented water...

Feb 9, 2022

Indonesian crocodile finally freed from motorbike tire stuck around its neck for 6 years

A 13-foot-long (4 meters) crocodile on an Indonesian island has been freed from an unflattering and potentially harmful motorbike tire that had been stuck around its neck for at least six years. A local man who captured the behemoth in a handmade trap managed to remove the rubbery necklace. The...

May 13, 2022

Colossal 300-pound alligator gar caught (and released) in Texas bayou

Most people think of fishing as a relaxing way to pass an afternoon. But for YouTuber and conservationist Payton Moore, a recent fishing excursion was instead an intrepid monster hunt. Last week, the Texan set sail down a Houston bayou in search of a truly gargantuan alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula)...

Aug 14, 2023

Cassius, the world's largest captive crocodile, could be even bigger than we thought

Cassius, the largest living crocodile in captivity, could be even bigger than previously thought. The saltwater crocodile — who is thought to be 120 years old — entered the record books in 2011, when he measured nearly 18 feet (5.48 meters) long. But his keepers haven't measured him since, meaning...

Aug 31, 2023

800-pound alligator is the longest ever caught in Mississippi

Hunters have killed the longest alligator ever captured in Mississippi in the state's Yazoo River. The record-breaking animal measured 14 feet and 3 inches (4.34 meters) long and weighed in at 802.5 pounds (364 kilograms), according to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP). The previous record for...

Sep 11, 2023

Florida alligator weighing over 900 pounds could have been 90 years old when caught

A huge alligator weighing almost 1,000 pounds (455 kilograms) has been caught in Florida — the second heaviest in state history. The supersized reptile, which was likely between 60 and 90 years old, measured over 13 feet long (4 meters) when hunters hauled it in on Aug. 26. U.S. Coast...

Sep 20, 2023

Indian crocodiles seen saving dog from feral pack attack, but scientists divided over what it means

Scientists in India have observed mugger crocodiles engaging in some strange behaviors, including hunting in packs, using sticks as bait to lure herons and egrets within striking range, showing interest in flower garlands floating in the river and even saving a feral dog that had been chased by other dogs....