AMERICAN CROCODILE

The 'American Crocodile' (''Crocodylus acutus'') is one of the four species of New World crocodile and the most wide-spread in range. It occurs from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico through Central America and in South America as far as Peru and Venezuela. It also breeds on Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola, and there is a remnant population of approximately 2,000 in Florida, United States. The habitat of the American crocodile consists largely of freshwater or brackish water coastal habitats, and mangrove swamps. The American crocodile is one of the largest crocodile species, with males reaching lengths of roughly 5 meters (16.4 feet).^[1]

Contents

Physical characteristics

Differentiation from American alligators

Habitat

Population

References

External links

Physical characteristics

Like all crocodiles it is a quadruped, with four short, splayed legs; a long, powerful tail; a scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes running down its back and tail; and mighty jaws. It has nictitating membranes to protect its eyes, and, despite the myths, it does have lachyrmal glands, and can cleanse its eyes with tears.
The nostrils, eyes, and ears are situated on the top of its head, so the rest of the body can remain concealed underwater. Cryptic coloration also helps them prey on food.

American crocodiles normally crawl along on their belly, but they can also "high walk". Smaller specimens can gallop, and even larger crocodiles are capable of surprising bursts of speed. They can swim equally fast by moving their body and tail in a sinuous fashion, but they cannot sustain this form of movement for an extended period.
Crocodiles have a four-chambered heart, like a bird, which is especially efficient at oxygenating their blood. American crocodiles normally submerge for only a couple of minutes, but can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes if threatened and if they remain inactive they can hold their breath for up to 2 hours. They have an ectothermic metabolism, so they can persist for great periods between meals. When they do eat, the American crocodile can eat up to half their body weight at a time.
Due to hide hunting, pollution, loss of mangrove habitat, and removal of adults for commercial farming, the American Crocodile is endangered in parts of its range.
This species can be dangerous to humans–--as attacks in areas such as Costa Rica, Mexico and Guatemala are not uncommon. These attacks rarely make international news, and therefore this species is not as well-documented a man-eater as its Nile or Saltwater relatives. In May of 2007, there were two separate instances within one week of children being attacked and killed by this species. One in Mexico just south of Puerto Vallarta [1] and one in Costa Rica [2].

Differentiation from American alligators

Main articles: Crocodiles#Differentiation_from_alligators

While alligators are often confused with crocodiles, they belong to two quite separate taxonomic families, and are as distinct from one another as humans are from gorillas. As for appearance, one generally reliable rule is that alligators have U-shaped heads, while crocodiles are V-shaped (which can be remembered by noting that "A" in alligator comes before "C" in crocodile in the alphabet, and "U" comes before "V"). Also, if one compares the snout of the two species, only the upper teeth are visible when an alligator's mouth is closed, while a crocodile's mouth will reveal both lower and upper teeth.

Habitat

This species prefers habitat similar to that of the Saltwater crocodile of Southeast Asia and Australia. River mouths, brackish waters and can even be found at sea (hence its wide distribution in the Caribbean).

Population

The American crocodile has an estimated wild population of 500 to 1200 in South Florida[3]. On March 20, 2007 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service declassified the American crocodile as an endangered species, downgrading its status to 'threatened'; the reptile remains protected from illegal harassing, poaching or killing under the federal Endangered Species Act. ^[2] One thousand to 2,000 American crocodiles exist in Mexico, Central and South America.

References

1. American crocodile factsheet
2. American Crocodile No Longer Near Extinction. March 21, 2007.


★ Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1ac v2.3)

External links

★ ARKive images and movies of the American crocodile ''(Crocodylus acutus)''

★ University of Florida's crocodile research in Southwest Florida

★ National Parks Conservation Association