The American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

May 06, 2012 Features / Columnists, Interesting Creatures in Guyana

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The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a species of crocodilian found in the Neotropics. It is the most widespread of the four extant species of crocodiles from the Americas. Populations occur from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico to South America as far as Peru and Venezuela. It also lives within many river systems on Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola.
Within the United States, the American crocodile is only found within the southern half of Florida. The habitat of the American crocodile consists largely of coastal areas. This creature is larger than some other crocodile species, with some males reaching lengths of 6.1 metres (20 ft) in Central and South America.
Like all crocodilians, the American crocodile is a quadruped, with four short, splayed legs, a long, powerful tail and a scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes running down its back and tail. Its snout is elongated and includes a strong pair of jaws. Its eyes have nictitating membranes for protection along with lachrymal glands, which produce tears.
The nostrils, eyes, and ears are situated on the top of its head, so the rest of the body can be concealed underwater for surprise attacks. Camouflage also helps them prey on food. The snout is relatively longer and narrower than the American alligator although broader on average than the Orinoco crocodile. American crocodiles are also paler and more greyish than the relatively dark-hued alligator.
This crocodile species normally crawl on their belly, but they can also “high walk”. Larger specimens can charge up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h). They can swim at as much as 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) by moving their body and tail in a sinuous fashion, but they cannot sustain this speed.
American crocodiles are more susceptible to cold than American alligators. While an American alligator can subsist in water of 7.2 °C (45.0 °F) for some time, an American crocodile in that environment would become helpless and drown. American crocodiles, however, have a faster growth rate than alligators, and are much more tolerant of salt water.
Newborn hatchlings are about 22 centimetres (8.7 in) in size and about 60 grams (2 oz) in mass.  The average adult is four metres (13 ft) long and weighs 382 kilograms (840 lb) in males, and three metres (9.8 ft) and 173 kilograms (380 lb) in females.
The American Crocodile is said to grow largest in the South American river basins, but even old males rarely reach six metres (20 ft).  A skull of this species was found to measure 72.6 centimetres (28.6 in) and is estimated to have belonged to a crocodile of 6.6 metres (22 ft) in length. Large, mature males regularly weigh about 400–500 kg (880-1100 lb), with the six meter plus individuals surpassing 1000 kg (2,200 lb).
American crocodile’s primary prey throughout life is fish and the relatively narrow snout is indicative of this piscivorous preference. Virtually any freshwater fish is potential prey. Prey species can range in size from the insects taken by young crocodiles to cattle taken by large adults and can include, beyond fish, birds, mammals, turtles, crabs, snails, frogs, and occasionally carrion. Adult American crocodile don’t have any natural predators and are capable of eating anything at the water’s edge. Reportedly, these crocodiles hunt primarily in the first few hours after nightfall, especially on moonless nights, although they feed at any time of day or night.
The hatchlings, which are 24 to 27 cm (9.4 to 11 in) in length, have been reported to actively hunt prey within a few days of hatching. It is not uncommon for the mother to care for her young even weeks after they have hatched, remaining attentive to their calls and continuing to provide transportation. It is not until about five weeks after hatching that the young crocodiles disband in search of their own independent lives. Most of them, of course, will not survive, being preyed upon by various raptorial birds and larger fishes. But those that do survive the early stages of life will grow rapidly, feeding on insects, fish and frogs. Additionally, it has been reported that some young crocodiles will feed on each other.
Due to hide hunting, pollution, loss of habitat, and removal of adults for commercial farming, the American crocodile is endangered in parts of its range. In 1972, Venezuela banned commercial crocodile skin harvesting for a decade, as a result of 1950s and 1960s overhunting.
One thousand to two thousand American crocodiles live in Mexico and Central and South America, but populations are data deficient. The American crocodile is considered a vulnerable species, but has not been assessed since 1996. It has an estimated wild population of 500 to 1,200 in southern Florida.
On March 20, 2007, the United States 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.
(Source: Wikipedia – The Free Online Encyclopedia)

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