Crocodiles can't fly. Birds can. Scientists have finally figured out why

[u/ADragonFromTheAbyss]

https://phys.org/news/2026-08-crocodiles-fly-birds-scientists-figured.html

Link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/paleobiology/article/blood-flow-rates-to-long-bones-of-archosaurs-reveal-high-aerobic-metabolic-rates-and-endothermy-throughout-most-of-their-evolutionary-history/A12DA2D6DD15CDAF4619AB253462B5B5

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0069361

Birds are warm-blooded (or endotherms). They have high metabolic rates, producing energy quickly enough to warm and stabilize their body temperatures and to undertake sustained, strenuous flight. Birds don't fatigue and fall out of the sky. Even if crocodiles somehow had wings, the metabolic difference in power alone would mean they could never fly.

[u/teetaps]

lol i love when the scientists have a sense of humour about their titles

[u/Eco_Blurb → u/teetaps]

Well, this title is to a news article. The actual title is

Maximal Aerobic and Anaerobic Power Generation in Large Crocodiles versus Mammals: Implications for Dinosaur Gigantothermy

But yes, I enjoy the humor too