American Crocodile Facts
- Perhaps most notably, the American Crocodile serves as the descriptive common name for a particular species of crocodilian found in the Neotropics. Yet, the marvel also has other general titles. These include Acutus crocodile, Central American crocodile, and Neotropical crocodile.
- Inside of the scientific community, however, it’s most likely better known by its purely technical designation. Unlike most such tags, that’s comparatively simple for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because this wonder of Nature holds the formal epithet Crocodylus acutus.
- This amazing reptile received that relatively simple moniker due to the efforts of Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, baron Cuvier. He accomplished the first formal recognition of it as a separate and distinct species. He achieved that scientifically noteworthy deed in the year 1807.
- The remarkable creature additionally holds yet annother distinction. That’s due to the impressive fact that it appears to be the most widespread of the four extant species of crocodile from the Americas. That status easily distinguishes it from its many relatives.
- This situation nevertheless has its unique aspects, however. Within the boundaries of its greatest area of concentration, the distribution of the American Crocodile remains extremely limited. This smaller range includes only Puerto Rico and the southern half of Florida.
- This animal remains extremely powerful and highly dangerous if provoked. Currently though, this product of evolution only has an estimated population of 2,000 individuals. For the moment, therefore the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species.
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American Crocodile Physical Description
Like all known extant crocodilians, the fascinating American Crocodile developed as a quadruped, possessing four short, splayed legs, and a long, powerful tail. This majestic work of Nature also evolved an extremely thick, scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes running down its back and tail.
The snout of the impressive reptile also grows highly elongated, following the pattern of its brethren. This feature also includes a remarkably strong pair of jaws. The eyes develop as covered by nictitating membranes for their protection, along with lachrymal glands, which produce tears.
The nostrils, eyes, and ears develop situated entirely on the top of its head, so the rest of the body can be concealed underwater for surprise attacks. As a larger variety of crocodile, some males of the species reach lengths of as much as 20 ft (6.1 m) and weigh in excess of 2,000 lbs (907 kg).
On average, though, these individuals of the American Crocodile remain smaller than this. A more typical size’s in the range of 13 ft (4.1 m) in length, and a weight of about 880 lbs (400 kg). Like many animals, sexual dimorphism exists. Females develop smaller, rarely exceeding 12 ft (3.8 m).
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Crocodilia
- Family: Crocodylidae
- Genus: Crocodylus
- Species: C. acutus
American Crocodile Habitat
As recently as 1970, the majority of experts determined that the population of the American Crocodile appeared to be highly threatened. Estimates at that time placed its population at no more than 200 individuals. The habitat of the powerful crocodile consists largely of coastal areas.
Specimens of this marvel of biology most frequently make their home in river systems. They do, however, have a tendency to prefer a certain level of salinity in the water itself. This usually results in the species congregating in brackish lakes, coastal swamps, lagoons, even cays, and small islands.
Some other crocodiles also have this natural tolerance for salt water. That’s because they have salt glands Nature provided them underneath the tongue. The American Crocodile, though, remains the only known species other than the Saltwater Crocodile to commonly live and thrive in saltwater.
Like any other large species of crocodilian, given its nature, this captivating animal continues to be potentially dangerous to humans. The reptile does not, though, appear to be a very aggressive species, relatively speaking. That holds true due to the fact that attacks on humans rarely occur.
American Crocodile Distribution and Ecology
Populations of the fascinating American Crocodile occur across a realtively wide swathe of its region of the surface of the earth. Populations mainly exist along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico. Some, however, appear to live as far away as Peru and Venezuela, in South America.
This amazing species continues to remain the most prevalent in the United States, in North America, however. Yet, the powerful reptile also occasionally occurs on many of the Caribbean islands. But it presently remains unclear if this forms part of its natural range, or an aberration.
The well-known creature also constitutes one of the largest of all known crocodile species. This variety also has a noticeably more V-shaped snout compared to other large crocodiles. The great majority of these usually have a slightly wider snout. The evolutionary reason for this is unknown.
Somewhat surprisingly, despite its large size itself, this incredible crocodilain does not commonly prey upon large animals. In this, it differs from the majority of its relatives. Fish, reptiles, birds and small mammals appear make up the majority of the diet of most individual specimens.
Exceptions to this tendency do nevertheless occur, as is often the case. That’s due to the fact that on occasion larger mammals, such as deer and domestic animals do get taken. The dietary habits of the American Crocodile in coastal regions remain poorly studied, at least for the time being.
Species Sharing Its Range
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