Crocodile: Evolution's Greatest Survivor

by Lynne Kelly

Following the fascinating history of the crocodile, this story tells the tale of an ancient animal whose ancestors have roamed the earth since the time of the dinosaurs. Addressing the true nature of this intriguing animal, this resource explores its evolutionary survival, the 23 living species in the world today, and the extinction they face due to habitat intrusion. Also explored are the myths and legends surrounding crocodiles and the vicious reputation they have amongst humans.

Genres: Science, Animals, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2006

About the author

My new book, The Knowledge Gene was be published in Australia and NZ in 2024, and early in 2025 for North America. It is the culmination of all my work on knowledge systems and memory. It is the scientific evidence humans are all genetically encoded to use our uniquely human skills in music, art, spatial abilities, story and performance to store and convey knowledge - and have been doing so for at least 70,000 years! We all have so much more potential that we are using.

I did a PhD on the way indigenous cultures memorise vast amounts of information when they don't use writing. Knowledge and Power in Prehistoric Societies was published by Cambridge University Press in 2015 and explains the implications for archaeology, offering new interpretations for the purpose of monuments around the world including Stonehenge, the statues of Easter Island and the huge images on the desert at Nasca.

The Memory Code (2016) presented this approach for the general reader. There was an overwhelming response to the book, asking how to implement the memory methods in contemporary life. That is the theme of Memory Craft.. Songlines: the power and promise is co-authored with Indigenous writers, Margo Neale and leads the First Knowledges series. Songlines for Younger Readers was published in 2023, leading the children's series. Both Songlines books have been shortlisted for major awards.

I grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and now live in rural Castlemaine. I started writing as a child and am the author of ten books for schools written during my teaching career, and a novel, Avenging Janie. I then started writing popular science, publishing three books, The Skeptic's Guide to the Paranormal, Crocodile: evolution's greatest survivor and Spiders: learning to love them.

Reviews

[kulisap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Less of a review, more of a rant haha

ㅡ

This is how much Steve Irwin has influenced me since my deep dive into all things Irwins and wildlife conservation since September. I've been looking for some science nonfiction on crocs and, unfortunately for me, there's not much titles on this topic I could find. But I'm glad I came across this book. It sufficiently satiated my hungry brain hyperfixating on crocs & gathering as much info about them as if an ADHD-brained geeky dragon hoarding riches (change dragon to ~me, and riches to ~useless information and scraps of paper I'm saving in case I'll need them.)

This book covers a wide array of topics revolving around crocodilians (a term which encompasses crocodiles, alligators, and gharialsㅡhas a very long snout), exploring the legends & myths with crocodilians as a center character (either as gods in disguise, malevolent and deceitful beings, or genuine friend to humans); recounting the history of taxonomy and how crocs got their scientific and common names; their magnificent anatomy and physiology; croc attacks and croc farming; these reptiles' place in our pop culture; and their overall impact in the human civilization and their invaluable and crucial existence in nature.

Crocodilians have been here for tens of millions of years, with ancestors dating back to hundreds of millions of years back. They are modern-day dinosaurs who should be revered and respected instead of hated. Honestly... Why hate any animals?? That, in and of itself, is just a weird thing passed on from generation to generation maybe bec fear of beasts was a vital instinct in ancient times. But we now live in a world where information is easily found and if we just keep humility and respect whenever we encounter wild animals (instead of, idk, shoving cameras up their face for a chance of going viral), we'd be able to live a more peaceful coexistence. We can appreciate and love animals, even and especially fearsome ones, in a safe distance.

Being apex predators, crocs serve a very important role in river systems in which they live: they control the population of various species of fishes and help balance and maintain the overall health of the water in their territory. Exterminate the apex predator and it's a downhill degradation for the ecosystem whose primary & natural caretaker you removed from it.

Croc attacks are unfortunate and tragic, and they are results mostly of either ignorance (not knowing you're in a croc territory and you went into the water or dangled your legs by the water's edge); arrogance (provoking a croc); just pure accident where things all go askew or when residents are forced to collect water by the croc-infested water bec there's no other source. In most cases, these could have been prevented through providing workshops to help them be better equipped when nearing water where crocs have been sighted, and... some people just gotta stop being stupidly arrogant thinking they're invincible and a giant carnivorous reptile, weighing half a ton with the strongest jaw pressure of any animal on earth, won't get them.

Another subject matter in the book that was most striking to me was crocodile farming. I just can't, don't, and won't agree with it. I understand how some would say it prevents people from taking wild crocs to be used into making products but if you're holding an authentic crocodile skin bag, how would you know whether it's a wild croc or farmed one? Do you trust the brand to be truthful about it? And what about the welfare of these animals forced to live in such close enclosures when they are territorial creatures who need a lot of space and being in tight spaces make them fight resulting to loss of limbs, tails, parts of their jaw... If, say, a bag made of cat or dog skin is deplorable, why isn't a bag made of crocodile skin? Because they are not cute? And yet these animals are sentient and intelligent.... I'm just blabbering here but don't you see this whole ethical dilemma? Maybe some does it in a "sustainable" and "ethical" way but that doesn't change the fact that others who do croc farming in such a cruel way are also given permit to operate.

This is an ongoing struggle in the crocodile conservation movement. In the Philippines, two species of crocodiles exist: Crocodylus porosus (saltwater croc) and Crocodylus mindorensis. The latter is an endemic species critically endangered with only less than 150 individuals in the wild. The biggest saltwater crocodile in captivity was Lolong (20ft) who died less than two years after being held in an ecopark (zoo). Crocodiles have long memories and can live as long as humans. I wonder how what drastic effect his removal in the ecosystem of his home range brought. I wish our our Philippine crocodiles could have a positively iconic image the way Philippine eagles do. Fewer than 100 individuals left in the wildㅡcan you imagine how tragically low that number is? It's tragic that the modern day crocodiles survived the fifth great mass extinction which wiped out the dinosaurs but is brought to extinction by human activities causing climate change, habitat loss, again, caused by humans, and people straight out murdering them due to various reasons most of which could be solved with sufficient science-based knowledge and expertise, government support, heeding to experts' guidelines in the chance of encountering them, asking locals to participate in the management and conservation of these species AND compensate them, etc...

But how do we even convince people to care about the welfare of crocodiles when many of us think prisoners, who are Humans, don't deserve dignity and good health as they are cramped into tight cells where contagious diseases can easily be transmitted, like during this pandemic... As a nation, we need to recalibrate our values and morals pertaining to all living things.

When seeing a crocodile or any crocodilian species, fear definitely an appropriate emotion but fascination and awe are too. For this newly found love for crocs and apex predators in general, I wholeheartedly thank Steve Irwin.

It's a dream to study these fascinating creatures.



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old review
4.75🌟 this is just what I anticipated it to be! A book all about crocodilians!!!

Crocs have been here for tens of millions of years with prehistoric ancestors dating back to hundreds of millions of years back! They survived the fifth mass extinction and are now facing (actually all of us are) the human-caused sixth mass extinction. Crocodilians, being apex predators, have such crucial existence in our waters. They enrich and balance our waters and other animals living there. It would be such a tragedy to lose these guys just because we couldn't understand their significance and give them respect and space.

This was a great read covering a wide array of topics centering around crocodilians, from legends, taxonomy, anatomy to their impact in human civilization tackling croc attacks, croc farming, and their role in pop culture. It was a delight to read!

It's definitely a dream to study these animals 😭

[Dеnnis]

Read this if you want to learn how to write a full-blown book, but you have only that much pertinent material to share with your reader. Hint: quote till you drop.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had my doubts about this book early on when I discovered the typo on page 2: Charles Darwin's sloop Beagle...'on its previous voyage from 1831 to 1936'. Surely they have proofreaders at Allen and Unwin? How an author could let this pass on page 2, I don't know.
But that aside it has other flaws and the biggest is that it seems to be a scientific book written by a non-scientist. How could a scientist write the following about stories that crocodiles target young virgins from a group of women washing at the water's edge 'A small animal at the edge of a group is more vulnerable and it is probably this, rather than a girl's virginity, which attracts a crocodile'. Probably? No virgin radar then.
Because I have recently been in the Northern Territory and seen crocodiles in the wild I sought out a book to learn more about them, but although I did learn some things, I learned a lot more from a day in Darwin Museum.
The last issue is one I have never come across before, but do authors usually go on Goodreads and give their books 5 stars? Every book they've written? Perhaps they all do it and I haven't noticed before, but I think it's dodgy.

[Zach Fitzner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reasonable and very readable introduction to crocodilians. Besides the science, I love how Kelly inserts mythology about crocodilians, which not only are interesting but give insight into how native peoples the world over hold crocodilians in esteem. This is a good book to learn facts and stories surrounding crocodilians, especially the salt water crocodiles of Australia.

[Eric_W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this kind of book. Shades of John McPhee. Lots of fascinating detail about crocodilians. There are several remarkable things about the Crocodylidae family. (Crocodiles are distinguished from alligators by a large fourth tooth in the lower jaw that becomes prominently displayed when the jaw is closed.) If you need to tell, just sneak up on one while he/she is asleep and then run like hell when they wake up. They can run at speeds up to 18 km per hour in the case of one species, but tire quickly, so if you can do a really good 100 yard dash, you'll probably be OK. Don't zigzag and don't look back.

They have an astonishing ability to repair themselves, having a terrific immune system, one that includes a special kind of antibiotic that appears to be efficacious in humans against a variety of viruses and bacterial infections. Research is continuing. Their circulatory systems permits them to lie under the water for extended periods of time, the muscles in the heart closing off the lungs and bypassing blood to only the important organs, small amounts of oxygen being removed as needed. The heart rate slows to one or two beats per minute, but the instant they surface and take in air everything reverts to full speed ahead on all functions.

Being poikilothermic they require temperate climates except for the American and Chinese alligators which hibernate during the winter. They use energy stored in fat very efficiently -- much more efficiently than I for sure since my fat seems never to be burned off -- and don't need to expend much energy to stay warm. If food is plentiful they can grow very quickly.

One interesting side note. The traditional definition of species differentiation has been the ability to interbreed and have fruitful offspring, yet some breeders have begin crossbreeding what had thought to be different species of crocodiles and alligators so the definition of species may be changing. Great stuff.

[Xarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know much about crocodiles and alligators, but after reading this book I was simply amazed. For example:

Crocodile and alligator blood has high levels of antibodies that scientists are studying to see if these antibodies could be used to help treat human illnesses.

A common ancestor for the crocodile and alligators are birds. And these ancestors lived during the time of the dinosaurs!

Crocodiles and alligators are very wary of humans. And fatal attacks are a lot less than fatal attacks by hippos.

Those are just some of the intriguing and amazing things about crocodiles and alligators. This is a very accessible and readable book.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really great overview for anyone interested in crocs. I thought it was extremely accessible for everyone. The book itself is broken up into different chapters that cover one croc topic. For example, croc farming, croc fossils, croc history, ect. Read it!

[Brianna Russell-Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a ton of awesome information about all sorts of crocodilians! It's also very accessible to read, so anybody not super into nonfiction can read it with ease!