Crocodylomorpha

Crocodylomorpha is a group of reptile-like animals that includes modern crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials, as well as many extinct relatives. These amphibious, carnivorous creatures are characterized by their powerful jaws, short legs, and long, massive tails. They are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs and birds, with a fossil record dating back 200 million years to the Late Triassic Period.1

Modern crocodilians, belonging to the order Crocodylia, possess a four-chambered heart and distinctive bony plates on their backs and bellies. Families within this order are primarily distinguished by skull anatomy and snout proportions. While some fossil forms reached lengths of up to 12 meters, modern species range from about 1.7 meters to over 7 meters long.23