(Press-News.org) McGill University researchers, in collaboration with Mexican scientists, have discovered two previously unknown species of crocodiles, one living on the island of Cozumel and the other on the atoll of Banco Chinchorro, both off the Yucatán Peninsula. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts, the researchers say.
"Biodiversity is disappearing faster than we can discover what we’re losing," said Biology Professor Hans Larsson, the principal investigator. "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."
Larsson and his team analyzed the genetic sequences of crocodile populations from Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro. Comparing these sequences to those of crocodiles across the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico’s Pacific coast, they found striking levels of genetic differentiation, leading the researchers to conclude that these populations were not simply variants of Crocodylus acutus. The two new species have not yet been named.
"These results were totally unexpected," former Larsson graduate student and lead author José Avila-Cervantes said. "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."
This discovery has significant conservation implications, the researchers 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.
"The rapid loss of biodiversity can only be slowed if we know what species are most at risk," said Larsson. "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."
The research was conducted with the help of local colleagues, including Pierre Charruau at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur in Mexico. The team captured and released crocodiles, collecting blood and scale samples for analysis. Genetic sequencing was carried out at McGill by José Avila-Cervantes during his graduate studies, with additional research on skull morphology by fellow McGill graduate student Hoai-Nam Bui.
About the study
Novel island species elucidate a species complex of Neotropical crocodiles by José Avila-Cervantes and Hans C.E. Larsson was published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
This research was funded by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada), the Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
END
Researchers identify two new crocodile species
The unexpected discovery on Mexican islands in the Caribbean makes it crucial to conserve the animals’ habitats, Professor Hans Larsson says
2025-05-06
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Study suggests we don’t just hear music, but ‘become it’
2025-05-06
An international study co-authored by McGill psychologist Caroline Palmer suggests our brains and bodies don’t just understand music, they physically resonate with it. These discoveries, based on findings in neuroscience, music, and psychology, support Neural Resonance Theory (NRT).
NRT maintains that rather than relying on learned expectations or prediction, musical experiences arise from the brain’s natural oscillations that sync with rhythm, melody and harmony. This resonance shapes our sense of timing, musical ...
McGill researchers develop practical new tool for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment
2025-05-06
A team of McGill University researchers has developed a cost-effective, high-throughput technology for detecting nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment.
These particles are pervasive, posing health and environmental risks, yet detecting them at the nanoscale has been difficult. The 3D-printed HoLDI-MS test platform overcomes the limitations of traditional mass spectrometry by enabling direct analysis of samples without requiring complex sample preparation. The researchers say it also will work for detection of waterborne plastic particles. HoLDI-MS stands for hollow-laser ...
The ISSCR announces Montréal as the location for its 2026 Annual Meeting 8-11 July 2026
2025-05-06
Stem cell scientists from around the world will gather in Montréal, Canada, from 8–11 July 2026 for the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2026 Annual Meeting. This global event will unite experts who are leading progress in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The meeting will center around five key scientific themes curated by the 2026 Annual Meeting Program Committee:
Clinical Applications
Chairs: Catherine Priest, USA and Stuart Forbes, UK
Capturing Development
Chairs: Kat Hadjantonakis, USA and Dasaradhi Palakodeti, ...
New study shows individuals prefer when firms stay apolitical on polarizing issues
2025-05-06
Customers often prefer companies aligned with their values, but it has been less clear how they react to firms taking a stance on a polarizing topic. A new study published in Strategic Management Journal explores how individuals respond to firms' communications around a polarizing political issue: whether firms take an apolitical stance, say nothing, or choose an ideological stance. The findings highlight how firm and communication characteristics influence the ways in which individuals' opinions of the firm are affected by management’s political activism, and how individuals may prefer firms to stay neutral.
The research team — Tommaso ...
University of Tennessee designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity
2025-05-06
The number and sophistication of cyberattacks has increased significantly in recent years. According to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, economic losses from cybercrime in the US exceeded $4 billion in 2020 and skyrocketed to $16 billion in 2024.
Beyond their monetary impacts, cyberattacks can cause significant harm.
“A significant number of cyberattacks are on critical infrastructure, like smart electrical grids or water meters,” said Himanshu Thapliyal, an ...
Research update: Okra, fenugreek extracts remove most microplastics from water
2025-05-06
The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they report in ACS Omega that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics in ocean water, freshwater and groundwater.
Rajani Srinivasan and colleagues have been exploring nontoxic, plant-based approaches to attract ...
Heat and drought are quietly hurting crop yields
2025-05-06
More frequent hot weather and droughts have dealt a significant blow to crop yields, especially for key grains like wheat, barley, and maize, according to a Stanford study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The analysis finds that warming and air dryness – a key factor in crop stress – have surged in nearly every major agricultural region, with some areas experiencing growing seasons hotter than nearly any season 50 years ago. The study also pointed to two important ways that models have missed the mark ...
Gender characteristics of service robots can influence customer decisions
2025-05-06
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The hospitality industry can leverage the gender characteristics of service robots to influence customers’ decisions, according to new research from a team in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management.
Service robots with characteristics typically associated with males may be more persuasive when interacting with women who have a low sense of power, according to the researchers. The team also found that “cute” features in the design of robots — such as big eyes and raised cheeks — may reduce the effect of portrayed robot gender on persuasiveness, as male and female ...
Ultra-thin bismuth holds unexpected promise for green electronics: researcher
2025-05-06
Electronic devices rely on materials whose electrical properties change with temperature, making them less stable in extreme conditions. A discovery by McGill University researchers that challenges conventional wisdom in physics suggests that bismuth, a metal, could serve as the foundation for highly stable electronic components.
The researchers observed a mysterious electrical effect in ultra-thin bismuth that remains unchanged across a wide temperature range, from near absolute zero (-273°C) to room temperature.
“If we can harness this, it could become important for green electronics,” said Guillaume ...
Discovery: a better, more targeted termite terminator
2025-05-06
Drywood termites, the ones that hide in wooden structures, molt about seven times in their lives. UC Riverside researchers have found a chemical preventing them from growing new exoskeletons will also end their infestation of your home.
The chemical, bistrifluron, and its ability to kill about 95 percent of a termite colony without off-target effects on mammals, are documented in a paper published in the Journal of Economic Entomology.
“This chemical is more environmentally friendly than ones traditionally used for drywood termite infestations,” said Nicholas Poulos, corresponding author of the paper and a doctoral student in UCR’s Department of Entomology. ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
AI can spot which patients need treatment to prevent vision loss in young adults
Half of people stop taking popular weight-loss drug within a year, national study finds
Links between diabetes and depression are similar across Europe, study of over-50s in 18 countries finds
Smoking increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, regardless of its characteristics
Scientists trace origins of now extinct plant population from volcanically active Nishinoshima
AI algorithm based on routine mammogram + age can predict women’s major cardiovascular disease risk
New hurdle seen to prostate screening: primary-care docs
MSU researchers explore how virtual sports aid mental health
Working together, cells extend their senses
Cheese fungi help unlock secrets of evolution
Researchers find brain region that fuels compulsive drinking
Mental health effects of exposure to firearm violence persist long after direct exposure
Research identifies immune response that controls Oropouche infection and prevents neurological damage
University of Cincinnati, Kent State University awarded $3M by NSF to share research resources
Ancient DNA reveals deeply complex Mastodon family and repeated migrations driven by climate change
Measuring the quantum W state
Researchers find a way to use antibodies to direct T cells to kill Cytomegalovirus-infected cells
Engineers create mini microscope for real-time brain imaging
Funding for training and research in biological complexity
The Journal of Nuclear Medicine Ahead-of-Print Tip Sheet: September 12, 2025
ISSCR statement on the scientific and therapeutic value of human fetal tissue research
Novel PET tracer detects synaptic changes in spinal cord and brain after spinal cord injury
Wiley advances Knowitall Solutions with new trendfinder application for user-friendly chemometric analysis and additional enhancements to analytical workflows
Benchmark study tracks trends in dog behavior
OpenAI, DeepSeek, and Google vary widely in identifying hate speech
Research spotlight: Study identifies a surprising new treatment target for chronic limb threatening ischemia
Childhood loneliness and cognitive decline and dementia risk in middle-aged and older adults
Parental diseases of despair and suicidal events in their children
Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in older adults
Acupuncture treatment improves disabling effects of chronic low back pain in older adults
[Press-News.org] Researchers identify two new crocodile speciesThe unexpected discovery on Mexican islands in the Caribbean makes it crucial to conserve the animals’ habitats, Professor Hans Larsson says