Crocodile

The crocodilian form is adapted to an amphibious way of life. The body is elongated, and its long, muscular tail is well suited to rapid swimming. The external nostril openings, the eyes, and the ear openings are the highest parts of the head. These important sense organs remain above the water surface even when the rest of the head and body are submerged. The two Like many nocturnal animals, crocodiles have nictitating membrane (that is, a thin, The upper surfaces of the back and tail are covered with large, rectangular horny plates arranged regularly in longitudinal and transverse rows. Most of the dorsal plates have a longitudinal ridge, or keel. Under these plates lie bony structures called osteoderms of about the same size. This configuration occurs in all but one species; in the estuarine crocodile, the bony plates are smaller. The entire underside of the crocodile has a regular pattern of scales, which are smaller than those on the upper surface. These scales are rectangular, entirely smooth, and contain little or no bone material. An exception to this condition occurs in Melanosuchus, Caiman, and Paleosuchus, in which the surface plates on the lower side are also bony. The The legs of the crocodile are short but powerful. The Structurally, the foramen of Panizza, which opens between the two vessels leading separately from the ventricles. This connection operates when the crocodile holds its breath. It allows blood to bypass the lungs when the animal is submerged, a...

Recent Examples on the Web In January 2018, a female crocodile living in captivity produced a clutch of eggs in her enclosure. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2023 The one thing that all these species have in common with crocodiles, according to the study, is their ancestral lineage. — Bob Mcnally, Outdoor Life, 7 June 2023 An Australian man is celebrating after fighting off a saltwater crocodile that latched its jaws onto his head. — Marisa Sullivan, Peoplemag, 30 May 2023 Human remains found inside 2 crocodiles believed to be missing fisherman The man had reportedly been driving some 90 miles from Las Animas to Pueblo in Colorado and got lost in Springfield along the way. — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 17 May 2023 In their latest release, posted Tuesday, police said human remains were located in two crocodiles euthanized by Department of Environment and Science wildlife officers. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 3 May 2023 No slight toward the 24-year-old pop star intended, but shouldn’t a crocodile sound a bit weightier? — Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Oct. 2022 The spinosaurid, a two-legged dinosaur with the face of a crocodile, was larger than a double-decker bus. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 June 2022 Aetosaurs were crocodile relatives that lived during the Triassic and were covered in bony plates and spikes. — Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Mar. 2023 See More These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrat...

There are 27 distinct species of crocodilian, including crocodiles, caimans, alligators, and gharials For all these families, there is a total of 27 species. There are only two species left in the Gavialidae family, a few for the alligators and caimans, and several for the true crocodile, or Crocodylidae. Conclusion Types of Crocodiles in Family Alligatoridae (In Alphabetical Order) 1. American Alligator Scientific Name A. mississippiensis Range Southeastern United States Size 450 kg (1,000 lb) Habitat Wetlands (inland), intertidal marine, and coastal marine IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern (LC) Estimated Population 750,000–1,060,000 The American alligator is what people often refer to when they say “alligator.” It is endemic to the United States, and they are hunted down during the gator season. American Alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis) 2. Chinese Alligator Scientific Name A. sinensis Range Eastern China Size 45 kg (100 lb) Habitat Inland wetlands IUCN Conservation Status Critically Endangered (CR) Estimated Population 50–100 The Chinese The Chinese alligator is either dark grey or black, and its body is also fully-armored. Unlike its American cousin, it is smaller, growing only to seven feet and weighing up to 100 pounds. During the summer, it burrows in the ground, and it brumates in the winter. It is a nocturnal hunter during summer, and it is an opportunistic feeder. Chinese Alligator ( Alligator sinensis) 3. Broad-Snouted Caiman Scientific Name Broad-sno...

Most people have a primordial fear of spiders and snakes and, of course, of predators that are larger than they are. So it makes sense to regard crocodilians (that is, the group of living alligators, crocodiles, caimans, gharials, and so on) with suspicion. Though several of their ancestors were more monstrous than their current forms, about half of the planet’s 23 living species of crocodilians are considered dangerous to people. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is famous for its Red List that characterizes the conservation status of various species, suggests that crocodilians strike out at human beings for four reasons: (1) they’re hungry, (2) they’re defending their territory, (3) they’re defending their young, or (4) they intended to attack another species—such as a dog, a cat, or another domesticated animal—that just happened to be near a person at the time. The list below catalogues some of the most-aggressive crocodilian species. • Black Caiman ( Melanosuchus niger) Jason Buberel The black caiman resides in northern South America and can be found over much of the Amazon River basin from Peru and Ecuador eastward to Guyana and Suriname. Black caimans have a broad diet, feeding on fish and other reptiles as well as rodents such as the capybara (which can grow as large as 4 feet [1.25 meters] long). Adult male black caimans often grow longer than 13 feet (about 4 meters); larger specimens have been known to attack people. The Worldwide C...

Crocodylus porosus), Alligator mississippiensis), and Gavialis gangeticus) The 9 genera and 28 species of Crocodilia are split into 3 subfamilies: Conventions [ ] Conservation status EX EW CR EN VU NT LC Other categories DD NE Conservation status codes listed follow the ". Population figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Classification [ ] The order Crocodilia consists of 28 extant species belonging to 9 genera. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. Modern molecular studies indicate that the 9 genera can be grouped into 3 families. Main article: The extant Alligatoridae can be recognised by the broad snout, in which the fourth tooth of the lower jaw cannot be seen when the mouth is closed. Genus Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population A. mississippiensis Southeastern United States Size: up to 450kg (990lb) Habitat: Wetlands (inland), intertidal marine, and coastal marine Diet: LC 750,000–1,060,000 A. sinensis Eastern China Size: up to 45kg (99lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands Diet: CR 50–100 Genus Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population C. crocodilus Northern South America and Central America Size: up to 45kg (99lb) Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands Diet: LC 1,000,000 C. latirostris Southeastern South America Size: up to 50kg (110lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands and intertidal marine Diet...

There are 13 crocodile species, and they range in size. The smallest, the dwarf crocodile ( Osteolaemus tetraspis), grows to about 5.6 feet (1.7 meters) in length and weighs 13 to 15 pounds (6 to 7 kilograms), according to the Zoological Society of London. The largest, the saltwater crocodile ( Crocodylus porosus), can grow up to 23 feet (6.5 m) in length and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg), according to Oceana.org. What do crocodiles eat? A Nile crocodile gets blood on its snout after a kill. (Image credit: Getty) Crocodiles are carnivores, which means they eat only meat. In the wild, they feast on fish, birds, frogs and crustaceans. Occasionally, crocs cannibalize each other. In captivity, they eat small animals that have already been killed for them, such as rats, fish or mice. They also eat live locusts, according to The Australian Museum. Where are crocodiles found? About 100 million years ago, during the Crocodiles live in tropical climates because they are cold-blooded and cannot generate their own heat. During colder months, they enter a hibernation-like state of inactivity known as aestivation, which involves slowing down all bodily processes, according to Animalia. Crocodiles also aestivate during long periods of drought. To create a place to hibernate, they dig out a burrow in the side of a riverbank or lake and settle in for a long sleep. Are crocodiles dinosaurs? Archosaurs like this Uberabasuchus are the ancestors of modern crocodiles. They lived alongs...