Why do Crocodiles eat fruits?

Crocodiles were not merely eating meat, Alligator or crocodile appeared to have healthy eating habits as fond of eating fruits. A study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society reveal that the American alligator and a dozen other species of crocodiles enjoy the fruit as a distraction outside their diet is rich in meat, even mammals, birds, or fish.

A new WCS-led study says American alligators (pictured) and 12 other crocodilians consume fruit, in addition to their usual meat heavy diets. (Picture from: https://www.technology.org/)

This study provides new insights about the possible role of the alligator in environmental conservation. Some species of crocodiles has a large territory, so that these animals can play an important role in forest regeneration when digest and discard the seeds of fruits in the forest.

The study results were published in the Journal of Zoology, in July 2013 edition. The research team involved in this research, among others, Steven Platt of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Ruth M. Elsey of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Hong Liu of Florida International University and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

The researcher team examined 18 species of crocodilian ranging from the American alligator to the fearsome Nile crocodile. They found that 13 species of crocodiles which consumes several kinds of fruit, including various berries, legumes, nuts, and cereals.

Some researchers speculate that some fruits are accidentally ingested when the crocodile tried to capture prey. However, evidence suggests that some other types of fruits intentionally consumed in large quantities.

The United States researcher team believes is the fruit consuming habit is likely done to obtain additional nutrients. "Although rarely reported, the fruit eating habit seems widespread among various species of crocodiles," said Steven Platt, the researcher leader of the WCS. Related crocodile habitat in subtropical and tropical wetlands, he serves as a suspected crocodile significant seed dispersal agents in many freshwater ecosystems. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCIENCEDAILY | WCS | TJANDRA DEWI | KORAN TEMPO 4321]

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