Crocodilia
Crocodilia (crocodilians; class Reptilia, tesubclass Archosauria) An order that includes the crocodiles, Alligatoridae (alligators and caimans), and Gavialidae (gavials), derived from thecodontian (Thecodontia) ancestors and closely related to the dinosaurs and pterosaurs. They are first recorded from Triassic rocks and were the only archosaurs to survive the Mesozoic Era, although strictly speaking the birds (Aves) are also archosaurs. Modern crocodilians are large, tropical, aquatic reptiles. The snout is long with strong conical teeth, raised valvular nostrils, and a secondary palate (which allows air-breathing with the mouth open in the water). The body has an armoured skin, short, powerful limbs, and a laterally flattened tail with a double row of raised scales merging towards the tip.
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Crocodilia
