This is possible because scientists have discovered that some species of crocodilian were sensitive to changes in climate while others were more tolerant. Mapping the distribution of these different species using fossil remains could reveal more precise details about what the global climate was like in different locations millions of years ago. The palaeontologists suggest that Morocco could have been the platform for other marine species, in the gavialoid family, to migrate to South America. Meanwhile, the marine tomistomines, a family of crocodilians whose distribution once included England, progressively disappeared from north to south, as the freeze continued. Explore further Evolution of marine crocodilians constrained by ocean temperatures

Source: The North Africa Journal June 19, 2019 07:18 UTC