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EvOCRO Project

@evocroproject.bsky.social
39 followers 56 following 59 posts

Exploring how crocodiles think and learn. Behaviour • Evolution • Conservation EU-funded • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow MSCA evocroproject.github.io

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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
🇬🇧🐊 ECBB 2026 was more than four days of talks. For @xiscacassola.bsky.social, it meant organising, presenting EvOCRO internationally for the first time, giving her first conference talk in English and... Read her story: evocroproject.github.io/blog/posts/2... #EvOCRO #MSCA
evocroproject.github.io
ECBB 2026
Congress
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
🐊 Before the strike comes a choice. Crocodilians can capture prey with a rapid forward lunge powered by the tail and a lateral movement of the jaws. But hunting also involves deciding where and when to attack, depending on the type of prey. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #MSCA
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European Conference on Behavioural Biology @ecbb2026.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
#ECBB2026 @coldbloodedcog.bsky.social answering the question Do reptiles know what another reptile can see? as part of this morning's symposium on practical and theoretical challenges in reptile and amphibian cognition.
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Dr Jen Colbourne 🇨🇦🏳️‍🌈 @raccoonologist.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Some of the most passionate folks in reptile cognition, all in one room! #ECBB2026 🤩 🦎 🐊 🐢 @xiscacassola.bsky.social @annawilkinson.bsky.social @stephanreber.bsky.social @birgitszabo.bsky.social
Francesca, Anna, Stephan and Birgit
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Next week, EvOCRO heads to Cambridge for #ECBB2026! Prof. Claudia Wascher and Francesca are part of the Core Organising Group, while Francesca and Prof. Anna Wilkinson are organising a symposium on reptile and amphibian behaviour. www.aru.ac.uk/events/confe...
aru.ac.uk
European Conference for Behavioural Biology (ECBB) 2026 - ARU
Find out about the European Congress for Behavioural Biology (ECBB) 2026, taking place from 1-4 September at ARU in Cambridge.
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
🐊 Pool 4 is ready for its close-up. New pool. New crocodiles. New faces to remember. You gave them their names. Now meet the crocodiles behind them. 👀 Pick your favourite. #EvOCRO #PoolByPool #Crocodiles #AnimalBehaviour #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
🐊 Pool 3 has entered the chat. You helped give them names. Now we're putting faces to those names, one pool at a time. 👀 Which one would you recognise first? #EvOCRO #PoolByPool #Crocodiles #AnimalBehaviour #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
🐊 Pool 2 is here! Time to meet another group of EvOCRO crocodiles. You helped choose their names—now discover the crocodiles behind them. 👀 Which one is your favourite? #EvOCRO #PoolByPool #AnimalBehaviour #MSCA
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Still 30minutes left to talk about reptiles with me at @isbe2026.bsky.social @evocroproject.bsky.social
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
🐊 Our latest blog post takes you inside #ISBE2026, where EvOCRO was represented through a scientific poster on 25 years of reptile cognition research. 🔗 Read the full story on our blog. evocroproject.github.io/blog/posts/2... @xiscacassola.bsky.social
evocroproject.github.io
ISBE 2026
Congress
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
🐊 You named them… now it's time to meet them! Welcome to Pool 1, the first stop in our new series introducing the crocodiles of EvOCRO. 👀 Who's your favourite so far? #EvOCRO #Crocodiles #AnimalBehaviour #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
🐊 Different expertise. One shared goal. Meet Marisol, Project Collaborator in Integrative Biotechnology, and discover how multidisciplinary research helps shape EvOCRO. #EvOCRO #BehindTheJaws #MSCA #AnimalCognition
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
🐊 Seventy years? For a crocodile, that may not be the finish line. Many individuals can live beyond 70 and, under favourable conditions, even over a century. In the wild, reaching that age is another story. #EvOCRO #CrocodileLessons #MSCA
🇬🇧

🐊 Seventy years? For a crocodile, that may not be the finish line.

Crocodiles are among the longest-lived reptiles: many individuals can live for more than 70 years and, under favourable conditions, even for over a century.

In the wild, however, their lifespan is often limited by external factors such as competition, disease or human activities, rather than by biological ageing itself.

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🇪🇸

🐊 ¿Setenta años? Para un cocodrilo, puede que eso no sea el final del camino.

Los cocodrilos se encuentran entre los reptiles más longevos: muchos individuos pueden vivir más de 70 años y, en condiciones favorables, incluso superar el siglo de vida.

Sin embargo, en la naturaleza, su esperanza de vida suele estar limitada por factores externos como la competencia, las enfermedades o las actividades humanas, más que por el propio envejecimiento biológico.

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🇮🇹

🐊 Settant’anni? Per un coccodrillo, potrebbero non essere il traguardo.

I coccodrilli sono tra i rettili più longevi: molti individui possono vivere oltre 70 anni e, in condizioni favorevoli, anche più di un secolo.

In natura, tuttavia, la loro aspettativa di vita è spesso limitata da fattori esterni come competizione, malattie o attività umane, piuttosto che dall’invecchiamento biologico stesso.

🇪🇺 Questo progetto è finanziato dal programma Horizon Europe dell’Unione Europea nell’ambito delle Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

#EvOCRO #CrocodileLessons #ReptileBiology #AnimalScience #HorizonEurope #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
🐊 Rain marks the beginning of crocodile nesting season. In our latest blog post, Francesca shares the experience of nest monitoring, egg collection and controlled incubation during fieldwork. 🔗 Read evocroproject.github.io/blog/posts/2... #EvOCRO #MSCA
evocroproject.github.io
The rains, the nests, and an unexpected side quest
Fieldwork
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
🐊 Before any experiment begins, animals need time to become familiar with new environments and procedures. In this reel, Francesca introduces Phase 1 of the EvOCRO protocol: familiarisation. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #MSCA #BehaviouralResearch
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
🐊 Crocodiles breathe air through their lungs and cannot breathe underwater. Yet a relatively slow metabolism and efficient physiological mechanisms allow them to remain submerged for long periods while waiting for prey. #EvOCRO #ReptileBiology #MSCA #AnimalBehaviour
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
🐊 Things they don't teach you at university: how to move a crocodile from one area to another. Fieldwork comes with unexpected skills. #EvOCRO #InTheField #FieldResearch #MSCA
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Testing my new camera with the best subjects (in these pics: OldStone, Alfonso, Cypress, Rita Farr and Obi-wan) #crocodiles #EvOCRO
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
🐊 Adult crocodiles are apex predators, but their lives begin very differently. Eggs and young crocodiles are highly vulnerable and can become prey for many animals, including carnivorous mammals and birds of prey. #EvOCRO #CrocodileLessons #Ecology #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
🐊 Nobody talks about this side of fieldwork. Not the papers. Not the conferences. Just trying to keep everything running when reality gets in the way. #EvOCRO #FieldResearch #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
🐊 CROCODILE LESSONS | Crocodiles can have between 60 and 110 teeth depending on the species. Even more impressive: they continuously replace them throughout life. An essential adaptation for predators that can easily lose teeth while hunting. #EvOCRO #CrocodileLessons #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
🐊 EvOCRO has made it to Morocco! The project is being presented as a poster at the 28th CSG Working Meeting, the Crocodile Specialist Group meeting currently taking place in Morocco. #EvOCRO ##AnimalCognition #FieldResearch #HorizonEurope #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
🐊 Crocodylus porosus has one of the strongest bites ever measured in the animal kingdom. Its bite force can exceed 3,700 PSI — powerful enough to immobilise large prey. #EvOCRO #CrocodileLessons #MSCA www.instagram.com/p/DYLF37EFRTd/
LESSONS FROM CROCODILE
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
🐊 Follow EvOCRO across all platforms. Fieldwork, animal cognition, science communication and updates from the project — directly from the field. 🔗 Join the journey. #EvOCRO #MSCA #HorizonEurope
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Writing what the croc Nikola must do next #animalcognition #crocodiles #animalbehaviour @evocroproject.bsky.social
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Crocodile nesting varies by species 🐊 Some dig, others build mound nests. Temperature affects development and even sex. www.instagram.com/p/DX94CLNldQp/ #EvOCRO #ReptileBiology #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Fieldwork means adapting 🐊 Weather changes. Plans change. The research continues. #EvOCRO #Fieldwork #MSCA @xiscacassola.bsky.social
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
My supervisor! I feel very lucky and thankful to learn from her!
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Meet another mind behind EvOCRO 🐊 Claudia A.F. Wascher — Project Supervisor, Behavioural Ecology & Animal Cognition. Her work explores how animals think, behave and adapt. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #BehaviouralEcology #Evolution #MSCA #Cambridge
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Fieldwork = more than experiments 🐊 Cleaning, managing, preparing. That’s where science really happens. #EvOCRO #InTheField #HorizonEurope #MSCA
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Gracias a Francisco Luna por la invitación Café Científico @ Menta (Campeche) hablando un poquito de @evocroproject.bsky.social
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Moving the new generation of reproductive adults @evocroproject.bsky.social #crocodiles #animalbehaviour
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Crocodiles don’t just react - they communicate 🐊 From high-pitched hatchling calls to deep bellows, at least 13 sound types have been identified. www.instagram.com/p/DXSHq2xgoHf/ #EvOCRO #AnimalBehaviour #horizoneurope #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
🐊 What is EvOCRO? From fieldwork to cognition, from behaviour to adaptation. Let @xiscacassola.bsky.social guide you. #EvOCRO #InTheField #AnimalCognition #HorizonEurope
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Meet Gerardo 🐊 A hatchling already part of our research. Every behaviour matters. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
You helped us name them 🐊 Here are the names chosen by our community. Colours match the crocodiles’ ID wristbands. Which one is your favourite? 👇 #EvOCRO #ScienceEngagement
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Meet Stanley 🐊 A juvenile in our pilot experiments. Wary. Observant. Still exploring. Every reaction matters. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #BehindTheJaws #MarieCurieActions
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Crocodiles detect prey using pressure receptors (integumentary sensory organs) in the scales around their mouth. These sensors pick up tiny water vibrations — even in the dark or murky water. www.instagram.com/p/DWrjStWgKhI/ #EvOCRO #AnimalBehaviour #CrocodileLessons #MarieCurieActions
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Fieldwork doesn’t stop for the weather 🌧️ Rain, humidity, unstable conditions — research goes on. Science isn’t always comfortable. But it’s always real. #EvOCRO #FieldResearch #InTheField #MarieCurieActions
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
🐊 Before experiments begin, there’s preparation. Setting up spaces, materials and conditions is what makes reliable science possible. Go behind the scenes of EvOCRO’s early work 👇 evocroproject.github.io/blog/posts/2... #EvOCRO #FieldResearch #AnimalCognition #MarieCurieActions
evocroproject.github.io
Setting everything up
Preparation
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Science doesn’t live only in papers. It lives in daily fieldwork: logistics, data collection, animal care and constant monitoring. Every result starts here. #EvOCRO #FieldScience #AnimalBehaviour #MarieCurieActions
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 21/03/2026
thinking that only three months ago I was afraid of handling these amazing animals, while now I take the 70cm ones in my hands without fear @evocroproject.bsky.social #crocodiles #animalbehaviour #animalcognition
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
We’re naming our crocodiles 🐊 Want to help? Drop your best name below 👇 The most creative ideas might become official. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #ScienceEngagement #MarieCurieActions
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
🐊 Meet Stanley, a juvenile in EvOCRO’s pilot experiments. Wary. Observant. Still exploring. Individual differences are key to understanding cognition. #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #PilotStudy #MarieCurieActions
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
#EvOCRO is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions — supporting mobility, international collaboration and scientific excellence. Research that matters for science, conservation and society. marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu #EUResearch #MSCA
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
🐊 In crocodiles, sex is influenced by incubation temperature — a process known as Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination (TSD). Environmental changes can shape population structure over time. www.instagram.com/p/DVCEidOiP_... #EvOCRO #ReptileBiology #ConservationScience #MSCA #HorizonEurope
LESSONS FROM CROCODILE
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Francesca M. Cassola Ph.D. @xiscacassola.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Evidente timidez frente a la cámara, pero el grupo de investigación está empezando a presentarse. Obvious shyness on camera, but the research group is starting to introduce itself. Evidente timidezza di fronte alla telecamera, ma il gruppo di ricerca sta iniziando a presentarsi.
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Today, we meet the mind behind EvOCRO. @xiscacassola.bsky.social is the Principal Investigator studying crocodile behaviour and #behaviouralecology. Follow the journey. www.instagram.com/evocroproject/
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
🐊 What do we mean by animal personality? It’s about consistent behavioural differences between individuals — even within the same species. Why does it matter for cognition and evolution? Find out in our latest blog post. evocroproject.github.io/blog/posts/2...
evocroproject.github.io
What do we mean by animal personality?
Let's talk about animal personality
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