The species is also capable of surviving in saline waters but is rarely found in such habitats. The Nile crocodile attains an average length between The crocodile is an opportunistic apex predator. It is also known for its highly aggressive nature and has been involved in several attacks on humans in the past.
It has a powerful bite that has a grip that is nearly impossible to loosen. The Morelet's crocodile Crocodylus moreletii is medium-sized crocodile that lives in the freshwater habitat throughout the Atlantic regions of Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico.
The crocodile is 9. It has a dark grayish brown color and a broad snout. The Morelet's crocodile feeds on reptiles, birds, and mammals. The Philippine crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis , is endemic to the Philippines and is a critically endangered species. Exploitation for commercial purposes and unsustainable fishing practices like dynamite fishing have led to a dramatic decline in the population of this crocodile species.
Currently, strict measures have been implemented by the Philippines government to prevent hunting or any other form of exploitation of the Philippine crocodile.
Freshwater crocodile Crocodylus johnsoni is a crocodilian that lives in Northern Australia. It is a smaller species of crocodile that possesses an elongated and narrow snout. The freshwater crocodile has a light brown colored body with dark bands on body and tail. These animals live in rivers and feed mainly on fish and smaller vertebrates. The Orinoco crocodile Crocodylus intermedius can be found in the freshwater environs of Venezuela and Colombia in South America.
Within its range, the crocodile is usually sighted in the Orinoco River and its tributaries. It is the largest crocodilian in the Americas and grows up to 13 feet. The Orinoco crocodile feeds on small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. The species is an apex predator in its freshwater environment. It is a critically endangered species due to the harmful impact of human activities. But what is the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile? If you really want to know for sure, you need to know the particular characteristics of each species.
But don't worry—there are a few general ways to tell the two apart:. Shape of the jaw— Alligators tend to have wide, U-shaped, rounded snouts, while crocodiles tend to have longer, more pointed, V-shaped snouts.
Teeth— The fourth tooth on the lower jaw sticks up over the upper lip on crocodiles, so you can see it when their mouth is closed. In alligators, this fourth tooth is covered up. Habitat— All crocodiles have special glands in their tongues that can get rid of excess salt, so they tend to live in saltwater habitats such as mangrove swamps and estuaries. Alligators do not have these glands, so they prefer to live in freshwater habitats.
With 23 species of crocodilians, though, these general rules don't always apply—there are exceptions! For examples, mugger crocodiles Crocodilis palustris have a broad snout like an alligator, while some subspecies of caiman have a narrow V-shaped snout. Making sense s out of it. All crocodilians are carnivores and very efficient hunters, and their senses are more powerful than those of most other reptiles.
You may not be able to see a croc's ears, but they have excellent hearing. Slits on their head lead to a well-developed inner ear, and the slits close up when the croc dives to keep water out. Crocs can even hear their young calling from inside their eggshells!
Crocodilians also have keen eyesight above water, similar to that of an owl's. Their eyes are placed on top of their head so they can see well as they cruise the water looking for prey. Crocs can probably see some color, and they have good vision at night because their vertical pupils can open wider than our round ones to let in more light.
They have taste buds to taste their food, and special organs in their snouts give crocs a great sense of smell. This is a great help when searching for prey in muddy water! That's a mouthful! As committed carnivores, one undeniable feature of crocodilians is their huge mouth. Stocked with 60 slender-snouted crocodile to gharial teeth at a time, a new tooth may move in to replace an old tooth in a very short time. This does not mean one set falls out all at once, but over time.
There will be new teeth waiting in the sockets to replace old or damaged teeth. Crocodilians may go through 8, teeth in their lifetime. In large-jawed species, their bite can produce up to 5, pounds of pressure per square inch, allowing these animals to chomp through just about anything. Human jaws generate about pounds of pressure per square inch.
The greatest power is used in snapping the mouth closed—opening it does not use nearly the strength. These reptiles do not have sweat glands and may release heat through their mouth by mouth gaping, similar to a dog panting. There are a few visible differences between alligators and crocodiles. When their mouths are closed, the large, fourth tooth in the lower jaw of an alligator fits into a socket in the upper jaw and is not visible, while the fourth tooth on the bottom jaw of the crocodile is visible.
The American alligator is a stunning example of a species that has fully recovered in large part due to protections provided by the Endangered Species Act. By conserving habitat and strictly controlling hunting and trade, we have been able to increase the population to the point where sustainable harvest programs provide economic incentives to conserve alligators and their aquatic habitats.
Defenders fights to defend the Endangered Species Act, which was vital in bringing the alligator back from the brink of extinction, and the Clean Water Act, which protects wetlands and waterways that are important for alligators and crocodiles. We also work to protect habitat through partnering on the Everglades Restoration Act, protecting national wildlife refuges and national parks, and engaging in state-level environmental planning.
Once hunted intensively for their hides, today, loss of habitat to human development, illegal killing and roadkill are the greatest threats faced by alligators and crocodiles. As sea level rises due to climate change, a significant portion of freshwater habitats may face saltwater incursion or inundation.
Help fight climate change by reducing emissions. Support habitat protections, especially for areas vulnerable because of climate change and sea level rise. South Florida is the only place where you can find both crocodiles and alligators.
American crocodiles are found in southern Florida, the Caribbean, southern Mexico and along the Central American coast south to Venezuela. Both are found in freshwater wetland areas. An estimated 5 million American alligators are spread out across the southeastern United States. Roughly 1. There are more than 1, American crocodiles, not including hatchlings, in Florida. Large male alligators are solitary, territorial animals. The largest males and females will defend prime territory.
Smaller alligators can often be found in large numbers in close proximity to each other, because smaller alligators have a higher tolerance of other alligators within a similar size class. Decidedly less aggressive than the infamous Nile and Australian crocodiles, American crocodiles are shy, reclusive and rarely seen by people.
Alligators Eggs generally hatch in mid-August. Crocodiles In April or May, the female crocodile will build a nest of loose dirt in a mound by the water's edge and lay her eggs. She buries the eggs and fiercely guards her nest. When the eggs hatch in July or early August, the female helps carry her young to the water.
But, unlike the alligator, she will not continue to care for her young. Thank you! Main navigation Wildlife. American Crocodile and Alligator. Beluga Whale. Crocodile tears aren't usually noticeable unless the croc has been out of the water for a while and the eyes begin to dry out.
A crocodile's jaws can apply 5, pounds of pressure per square inch. This means that they can bite through an arm or a leg with no problem. A human's jaw only produces pounds of pressure per square inch. The crocodile jaw has very little opening strength, though. For example, a crocodile's mouth can be held shut with a rubber band. In addition to their strong jaws, crocodiles also have very keen hearing. It is so good, they can hear their babies calling from inside their egg. Crocodiles are very fast swimmers, which helps them catch their prey.
They can swim up to 20 mph 32 kph and can hold their breath underwater for around one hour. On land, crocodiles aren't nearly as fast. They can only run up to 11 mph It is illegal to hunt crocodiles for their skin.
This makes their skin very rare. Live Science.
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