Quote Originally Posted by beachguy in thongs
Crocodilians, along with birds, are the only survivors of the once-prevalent Archosauria. During the Mesozoic (245-65 million years ago) this group, including dinosaurs and other reptiles, dominated life on all continents and in the oceans. Most or all of crocodilians' adaptations had already evolved by the late Triassic (about 200 million years ago). Crocodilians are the most advanced surviving reptiles; many of their features are more similar to mammals or birds than to other reptiles.

Crocodilians' eyes are immobile spheres covered by three eyelids: the third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, is transparent, but protects the eye from water.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.ed...rocodilia.html
See, I think there is a lot more to learn from animals that have actually been around that long. My only quarrel with this information (other than the time lines that they propose) is that if most crocodilians had already evolved by the late Triassic period (200 million years ago) than an overwhelming amount of change should have occured since that time, wouldn't you think? Realistically humans evolved over something like 60 million years (according) into what we now are and this crocodile seems to be content with it's current state.