Moving the new generation of reproductive adults
@evocroproject.bsky.social #crocodiles #animalbehaviour

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

🐊 What is EvOCRO?

From fieldwork to cognition, from behaviour to adaptation.

Let @xiscacassola.bsky.social guide you.

#EvOCRO #InTheField #AnimalCognition #HorizonEurope

Meet Gerardo 🐊
A hatchling already part of our research.
Every behaviour matters.

#EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #MSCA

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

Meet Stanley 🐊
A juvenile in our pilot experiments.

Wary. Observant. Still exploring.
Every reaction matters.

#EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #BehindTheJaws #MarieCurieActions

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

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

Setting everything up Preparation

🐊 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

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

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

We’re naming our crocodiles 🐊
Want to help?

Drop your best name below 👇
The most creative ideas might become official.

#EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #ScienceEngagement #MarieCurieActions

🐊 Meet Stanley, a juvenile in EvOCRO’s pilot experiments.

Wary. Observant. Still exploring.

Individual differences are key to understanding cognition.

#EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #PilotStudy #MarieCurieActions

#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

LESSONS FROM CROCODILE

🐊 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

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.

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/

What do we mean by animal personality? Let's talk about animal personality

🐊 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...

Today is #DarwinDay
And is there a better way to celebrate than spending the day working with animals?
@evocroproject.bsky.social #AnimalCognition #AnimalBehaviour #Reptiles #Crocodiles

🐊 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

IN THE FIELD - TEMPERATURE, METABOLISM AND ACTIVITY

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

It had been a long time since I last talked about science with a general audience, and I can confirm it’s still one of the things I love the most.
A special thanks to HADE Centro Cultural for the warm welcome, and Francisco Luna for the organisation #CafeConCiencia @evocroproject.bsky.social

What does it mean to run a research project funded by the European Union?

🇪🇺 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

When they try EVERYTHING to skip class
@evocroproject.bsky.social #crocodiles #MSCA #EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #Escape

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

4h sleep, 2 virtual meetings early in the morning, 15k by bike to go to work (30 round), training crocodiles, sitting on wet soil while writing a career development plan and planning next week...and many emails to answer!
@evocroproject.bsky.social #EvOCRO #STEM #WomenInSTEM #animalbehaviour #MSCA

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

First weeks of testing First weeks of testing

🐊 From desk to field: the first weeks of EvOCRO testing are shaping how crocodiles learn.
Pilot experiments, protocol changes, individual differences — science in real life.

🔗 Read the full blog post:
evocroproject.github.io/blog/posts/2...

#EvOCRO #AnimalCognition #Fieldwork #SciencePop

🐊 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