Crocodiles dive just like a submarine
 

Apologies to all of you who already know this, but I just read an interesting column in today's paper (Metro, London).

Crocodiles and alligators behave like modern submarines to dive, surface or roll sideways without flippers or fins, experts have revealed. The reptiles move silently through the water by turning their lungs into floatation tanks. Using their diaphragm, pelvic, abdominal and rib muscles, they move air towards the tail for diving and towards the end for surfacing. Modern submarines use a similar system by pumping air into different compartments to help the vessel dive underwater or to surface. Experts made the discovery by planting electrodes on to the muscles of five young alligators. Dr Colleen Farmer, from the University of Utah, said: "The secret to their aquatic agility lies in the use of several muscles to shift the position of their lungs."

So where do these buggers store their torpedoes http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/181...kbigsw1yo4.gif

Doesn't sound like Crocodiles and Alligators have control over their dive-planes either. :-?

They only have one single torpedo-tube on the stern.
The rest you can imagine by yourself.

Another interesting crocodata --Despite their impressive jaws, crocks can't chew worth a damn because they can't move the jaws sideways. They grab their victim and store it in an underwater hole and let it rot. When the meat is soft enough, they scarf up.

After the meal, the crock will lie on a beach with its mouth open. A certain tupe of bird comes and cleans the crock's teeth. :know:

Great!! so I've spent most of my life worrying about getting bit off a crocodile for nothing http://imgcash2.imageshack.us/img134/9742/angry8se2.gif

more crocodata (is this a copyright violation? :P):
altho a crock can bite your arm off (well, maybe not), you can actually tape their jaws shut. Becase most of the muscles are for shutting, and they only have a few to open their jaws.

As Crocs and Alligators are several million years old,
They have developed lock jaw and arthritis.
That's why thier jaws don't work right
:yep:
That's what Momma says!
:rotfl:

*Moving this to the GT forum, mateys!:yep::up:*

These fine beasts can't chew, but they procure smalls pieces of meat by biting onto a carcass with the front of their jaws and rolling around in the water, tearing off a piece of flesh.

That's right, Koster.
They twirl with the chunk of meat in their mouth. (But I never heard them sing the hoochie-woochie :rotfl: :rotfl: ).

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/905...hpiratevi9.gif :ahoy: http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/905...hpiratevi9.gif

As is frequently demonstrated, Human technology only replicates what Nature already does.

Crocks have been here for a few hundred million years. I consider them a successful species. Humans on the other hand?........

Male Crocs belch to show non-aggression to other male crocs

When a male croc wishes to indicate a non-aggressive posture to another male croc, he will open his mouth to its widest. This puts the croc in a vulnerable position which is interpreted by the other male crocs as being non-threatening. A male croc attacking will only open its mouth a specific angle where they have the maximum bite pressure/speed.

As part of the mechanics of opening the mouth to its widest, a croc will belch. There is much debate whether this belching is part of the non-aggressive posture or simply a coincident reaction to the mouth posture.

But in any case, one can observe male crocs belching when around other males.

They have been doing this for a few hundred million years.

It is my theory that this is why human males do the same thing. It is not a disgusting habit, it is a way human males indicate a non-aggressive posture to other male humans.

Women need to allow males to belch as a way of keeping the peace!
:yep:
That is my theory and I am sticking with it :know:

<belch>

I'll remember this post when I'm out with the wife tonight http://imgcash3.imageshack.us/img412...uplargeon1.gif