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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 · 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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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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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
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🐊 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 · 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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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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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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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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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 · 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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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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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 · 10/02/2026
🐊 Meet Gerardo, a youngest involved in EvOCRO’s pilot experiments. At this stage, we’re not testing performance, but making sure the experimental protocol works in real conditions. Solid methods start here. www.instagram.com/p/DUljO3ZCAU... #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #MarieCurieActions
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Crocodiles are ectothermic animals: their activity depends strongly on environmental and water temperature. Lower temperatures slow metabolism and reduce activity levels. www.instagram.com/p/DUWFc6oiMJ... #EvOCRO
IN THE FIELD - TEMPERATURE, METABOLISM AND ACTIVITY
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
🇪🇺 EvOCRO is funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions — a flagship scheme that supports researcher mobility, training, career development and international collaboration. @ec.europa.eu www.instagram.com/p/DUEEp7jDQL... #EvOCRO #MarieCurieActions
What does it mean to run a research project funded by the European Union?
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Studying very different species helps us understand what’s shared and what’s unique in how minds work. Crocodiles offer a window into how cognition evolves across vertebrates. www.instagram.com/p/DT8mWBICFF... #EvOCRO #CrocodileLessons #ComparativeCognition
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Next Friday, Francesca Cassola (EvOCRO) will speak about animal personality during an evening of public science communication at HADE Cultural Center. 📅 Jan 30 | 🎟️ Free entry | 📡 Facebook Live Thanks to @HADECulturalCenter for hosting. #EvOCRO #AnimalBehaviour
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
🐊 Why were reptiles often excluded from cognitive research? Not for lack of abilities — but because of bias, logistics, and old assumptions. EvOCRO studies crocodiles to rethink how cognition evolves across species. www.instagram.com/p/DTlZB81CHLR/ #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #Reptiles
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Before scaling up, EvOCRO tests its protocols with a small sample to ensure methods work in real conditions. Adjusting, refining, improving — this is how science moves forward. www.instagram.com/p/DTdTmmdCDG... #EvOCRO #PilotStudy #AnimalCognition #ResearchInAction #HorizonEurope
IN THE FIELD - THE PILOT EXPERIMENT
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
There are 12,000+ reptile species worldwide. They’re the second most species-rich vertebrate group, yet among the least studied. Looking beyond classic models is key to understanding how cognition evolves. www.instagram.com/p/DTVMClADG2... #EvOCRO #Reptiles #AnimalCognition #HorizonEurope
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
🐊 Behind sharp teeth, there’s more than instinct. Animal personality describes consistent behavioural differences between individuals. With EvOCRO, we study whether these differences affect how crocodiles learn and adapt. www.instagram.com/p/DTOG1hxFqGO/ #EvOCRO #BehindTheJaws #AnimalPersonality
IN THE FIELD - ANIMAL PERSONALITY
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
🐊 Conservation & research go hand in hand. EvOCRO works within UMAs — regulated Wildlife Management Units in Mexico that support conservation, research and sustainable wildlife management. www.instagram.com/p/DTGYcpJkrn... #EvOCRO #UMA #ConservationScience #HorizonEurope
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Animal cognition studies how animals acquire, process, and use information to adapt. And it is not exclusive to humans. Understanding animal minds helps us understand evolution itself. 🐊🧠 www.instagram.com/p/DTBO3muAVu... #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Suitcases, sensors, crocodiles… and a few laughs along the way! Check out the EvOCRO team’s journey ➡️ www.instagram.com/p/DS4y_ZmiMQ...
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
🐊 In the field is where everything starts. Observing crocodiles in their natural environment helps us understand how they learn and adapt. #EvOCRO #InTheField #AnimalBehaviour
IN THE FIELDLITTLE CROCODILES IN WATERCROCODILES IN THE GREEN SWAMPCROCODILES IN WATER WITH FOOD
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Survival is about adaptation, not fear. Crocodylus moreletii lives across Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. Protection helped the species recover - but habitat loss still threatens its future. EU-funded | Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions #EvOCRO #ConservationScience #AnimalBehaviour
LESSONS FROM CROCODILECrocodylus moreletii photo
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
From desk to field. 🐊 Measuring crocodiles means humidity, patience, and respect. This is where EvOCRO data are born. 🔗 evocroproject.github.io #EvOCRO #Fieldwork #MarieCurieActions
BEHIND THE JAWS - THE BACKSTAGE - CAMPECHE MEXICOBEHIND THE JAWS - THE BACKSTAGE - CAMPECHE MEXICO- LITTLE CROCODILES IN WATERBEHIND THE JAWS - THE BACKSTAGE - CAMPECHE MEXICO - MEN WHO WORK WITH CROCODILESBEHIND THE JAWS - THE BACKSTAGE - CAMPECHE MEXICO - FRANCESCA TRIES TO CATCH A CROCODILE FOR MEASUREMENTS
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
🐊 We’re ancient, social, adaptable — not “primitive”. Studying us helps scientists understand how minds evolve… including yours. 🧠 Evolution leaves clues. We carry them. evocroproject.github.io #EvoCro #ComparativeCognition #AnimalBehaviour #EUFundedProject #HorizonEurope #MarieCurieActions
LESSONS FROM CROCODILE
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EvOCRO Project @evocroproject.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
EvOCRO focus on three key aspects: 🔸 learning 🔸 cognitive flexibility 🔸 individual differences (personality, age, sex) These insights are essential not only for science but also for conservation. See more... www.instagram.com/p/DR0RqK6iA9...
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