Crocodiles can have extra growth cycles in a year: Why this matters for estimating the age of dinosaurs
Why it matters: Refined age dating reshapes dinosaur timelines and could guide modern bone‑growth research.
- Crocodiles show extra, non‑annual growth spurts (per the latest research).
- Paleontologists traditionally count annual growth rings to age fossils; the new data suggests many dinosaur specimens may be older than previously thought (per expert commentary).
- Bone‑histology methods now need adjustment; some scientists argue the effect is limited to certain croc species, while others see a broader impact on reptile growth models (per differing viewpoints).
A new study reveals that crocodiles can experience multiple growth cycles within a single year, overturning the long‑standing belief that they grow only once annually. This discovery forces paleontologists to revisit how they estimate the ages of extinct reptiles, especially dinosaurs, using bone‑growth markers.
