In a new study it is found crocodiles are capable of climbing trees. It can climb to the extent which was not earlier thought of.

Researchers from the University of Tennesee said the crocodiles highly adept at climbing trees. The team of researchers, headed by assistant professor Vladimir Dinets in the psychology department of the university, is among the first to study this behavior of the reptile.

Dinets and his team studied four species of the reptile from Australia, Africa and North America. They gathered data on the behavior as well as biology of the crocodiles. They also gathered the anecdotal evidence from the earlier studies and found the crocodiles can climb up to 13 feet and on the horizontal branches they can travel up to 16 feet.

The study report says climbing a steep branch or a steep hill is similar mechanically, but the only thing necessary is that the branch needs to be wide enough for the animal to walk on it. However, the ability of the crocodile to climb vertically on trees is its spectacular agility on land.

The team of researchers added that crocodiles were also seen hiding up in the trees to better stake out its prey. The crocodiles in Africa and Australia climbed trees through out the day and night where as the American species never climbed in the dark.

The study has been published in the Herpetology Notes journal with details about how the crocodiles climb trees.