"That Crocodile's soo soo cute! It's soo soo cute."

What makes an animal, or person for that matter, cute?  And when do adults stop thinking that crocodiles are cute?  Is it the minute we hear an adult tell us they are scary or dangerous?  Honestly, scary creatures are not associated with cuteness.  Except for monsters.  With the advent of Monsters, Inc and Sesame Street, monsters have become cute.  My 2 year old does not even make the connection that monsters are supposed to be scary.  She is more afraid of giants and loud parrots than anything remotely resembling a monster, including dinosaurs and crocodiles.