Credit: Vladimir Dinets
Based on an article titled "Play behavior in crocodilians" published in Animal Behavior and Cognition by Vladimir Dinets crocodiles have been shown to display play behavior.
The article suggest that crocodilians exhibit three different types of play behavior: play with objects, social play and locomotor play. This comes as a surprise to me as I have heard other accounts by croc experts who believed that crocodiles do not play. This study suggest that crocodiles can play with one another and even play with objects such as balls.
Although this study suggests crocodiles do exhibit play behavior the author does mention
"Even though these observations of apparent play behavior are mostly singular and, if taken separately, allow for alternative explanations (some of which are mentioned in Results section), combined they present strong evidence that play might be a more regular part of crocodilian behavioral repertoire than currently recognized."
So it seems more studies and observations will have to be performed before the argument is closed.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150210212044.htm
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