Latest news with #Crocodylusacutus
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists discover new crocodiles on Mexican islands that remained hidden for centuries
Biodiversity is constantly evolving, and as a result, nature surprises us with what is kept hidden in plain sight. While some of the species are becoming extinct and endangered, the discovery of new species not only gives a new ray of hope, but also tells us how much we still have to learn and protect. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Remote and ecologically rich areas like islands and coastal habitats often house unique species, but they're also among the most vulnerable to human development and environmental change. In this delicate balance between discovery and destruction, science plays a crucial role in identifying species before they vanish, possibly unnoticed. Genetic analysis and modern fieldwork are helping scientists revisit long-held assumptions, bringing to light some unexpected biodiversity. The more we discover, the easier it becomes, as each ecosystem holds details that deserve attention, research, and protection. A recent discovery is a perfect example of the same Scientists have identified two new species of crocodiles living in isolated parts of Mexico, one on the island of Cozumel and the other on the coral atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both situated off the Yucatán Peninsula. This is changing the assumptions, what scientists thought they knew about the American crocodile, which was believed to be a single, widespread species. According to Biology Professor Hans Larsson, the lead investigator of the study, the discovery came after the team analyzed genetic samples from these crocodile populations and compared them to others across the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico's Pacific coast. 'We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Small populations at risk despite stability The two newly identified crocodile species remain unnamed but are genetically distinct, with fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals in each isolated population. While both groups appear stable, their limited numbers and confinement to small habitats make them especially vulnerable. 'Now that we recognize these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats. Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival,' Larsson added. A wake-up call for conservation The discovery is also a race against time to catalog biodiversity before it's lost. 'Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing,' said Larsson. With coastal development and habitat degradation threatening crocodile populations across the globe, this find serves as both a scientific milestone and a conservation alarm bell.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
Two new crocodile species discovered. They are different from others
Scientists are stunned to discover two previously unknown species of crocodiles living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both off the Yucatan two new species are yet to be officially discovery challenges previous assumptions about the American crocodile and highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts, the researchers say that even as the population of the species is stable, it's still just a The team analysed the genetic sequences of crocodile populations from Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro and compared them to sequences of crocodiles across the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico's Pacific coast. The newly identified species live in small, isolated populations. (Photo: Getty) They discovered striking levels of genetic differentiation that led the researchers to conclude that these populations were not simply variants of Crocodylus acutus. "Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing. Most species of crocodiles are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population. Our research aimed to uncover the true diversity of crocodiles on these isolated islands," Biology Professor Hans Larsson, the principal investigator added that these results were unexpected. "We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals," Larsson said. The newly identified species live in small, isolated populations, each numbering fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals. While both populations appear stable, their limited numbers and habitat restrictions make them vulnerable."Now that we recognize these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats. Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival," Larsson said.
Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Two new crocodile species discovered, scientists say
Listen to article Scientists have identified two previously unknown crocodile species off Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, both of which may already be at risk of extinction due to small population sizes and habitat pressures. The new species were found on Cozumel Island and Banco Chinchorro, a coral atoll, and are genetically distinct from the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), according to a study published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. The discovery brings the total number of known New World crocodile species to six. Until now, scientists recognised only the American, Morelet's, Cuban, and Orinoco crocodiles in the region. Researchers from Canada's McGill University, along with partners in Mexico and Panama, conducted genetic and anatomical analyses that revealed enough variation to classify the Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro populations as separate species. 'These results were totally unexpected,' said lead author José Avila-Cervantes. 'We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean.' The research involved collecting DNA and skull measurements from crocodiles in both locations. Notable differences included skull shape, with Banco Chinchorro crocodiles displaying longer and broader snouts. The study estimates that each new species has fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals, and effective population sizes may be as low as 500. While current numbers appear stable, scientists warned that limited habitat and increasing tourism-related development could pose serious risks. 'Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we're losing,' said senior author Hans Larsson of McGill. 'Most crocodile species are already endangered. Protecting these habitats is critical.' Cozumel, a major cruise destination, received over 1.5 million visitors in the first three months of 2025 alone. Banco Chinchorro, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, is also under ecological strain. The researchers urged governments and conservation groups to implement stricter land-use policies and establish habitat protections to preserve the newly identified species. Although the reptiles are yet to be formally named, researchers hinted that references to their geographic isolation—such as Crocodylus cozumelus or chinchorri—may be used in their taxonomic classification. The study highlights how natural barriers such as ocean currents in the Yucatán region have helped shape biodiversity by isolating species and allowing unique evolution to occur. 'These crocodiles are evolutionary survivors,' said Larsson. 'Now that we know they exist, we must ensure they don't disappear before they are even named.'
The Independent
29-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Two new crocodile species discovered in Caribbean – but they are already facing extinction
The discovery, reported in a new study published in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, sheds further light on the true diversity of American crocodiles and underscores the need for urgent conservation efforts to protect them. "Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we are losing," Hans Larsson, a co-author of the study from Canada's McGill University, said. "Most species of crocodiles are already endangered, and rapid shoreline development threatens nearly every population.' The Americas are home to four species of Neotropical crocodiles of the genus Crocodylus. These species live in the warm, tropical regions of the continents, inhabiting coastal, inland and insular locations. They are a distinct group which evolved from ancestors that dispersed from Africa to the Americas around 5 million years ago. However, much of the evolutionary history of Neotropical crocodiles remains elusive. In the new study, researchers assessed the genetic sequences of crocodile populations from the Mexican island of Cozumel and the Banco Chinchorro atoll reef and compared these to crocodiles found across the Caribbean, Central America and on Mexico's Pacific coast. They found striking genetic differences in the sampled populations, leading them to conclude that the reptiles from Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro were not simply variants of the American crocodile Crocodylus acutus, but different species. The two new species also showed physical differences between themselves. 'The main differences between the populations are length and width of the skull,' the study noted. Banco Chinchorro crocodiles were characterised by a relatively long and broad snout compared to those on Cozumel. 'Our analysis supports Banco Chinchorro and Cozumel as genetically unique isolated populations,' researchers wrote, calling the results 'totally unexpected'. "We assumed Crocodylus acutus was a single species ranging from Baja California to Venezuela and across the Caribbean. Our study is the first to extensively explore genomic and anatomical variation in these animals,' said José Avila-Cervantes, another author of the study. The newly identified species were found to live in isolated populations of fewer than 1,000 breeding individuals, sparking concerns about their future. 'Estimated effective population sizes are only in the order of five hundred individuals in each population,' the study noted. Although their populations appeared stable, researchers warned that limited numbers and habitat restrictions left them vulnerable. "The rapid loss of biodiversity can only be slowed if we know what species are most at risk," Dr Larsson said. "Now that we recognise these crocodiles as distinct species, it's crucial to protect their habitats. Limiting land development and implementing careful conservation strategies on Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro will be key to ensuring their survival.'
