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Extant crocodilian species

Taxonomic lineage of Crocodilydae

cellular organisms - Eukaryota - Fungi/Metazoa group - Metazoa - Eumetazoa - Bilateria - Coelomata - Deuterostomia - Chordata - Craniata - Vertebrata - Gnathostomata - Teleostomi - Euteleostomi - Sarcopterygii - Tetrapoda - Amniota - Sauropsida - Sauria - Archosauria - Crocodylidae

Family Crocodylidae

• Alligatorinae Subfamily of alligators
  • Alligator
    • A. mississippiensis American alligator
      
      
      Facts, ecological importance, reproduction, life cycle and bibliography at GeoChemBio.com
    • A. sinensis Chinese alligator
      
      One of the smallest crocodilian species, males reach 6 feet, females smaller. Adults mostly black. Prefer slow moving freshwater rivers, streams, lakes, and swamps. Spend large portion of the year in a system of incredibly complex burrows, containing subterranean pools and air holes. Critically endangered. There are less than 130 individuals left in the wild. Currently, reside naturally within the lower Yangtze River basin, located along the central Pacific coast of China.
  • Caiman
    • C. crocodylus Spectacled caiman
      
      Small to medium sized crocodilian; males reach 8 feet, females usually less than 5 feet; a distinct bony ridge runs between the eyes. Inhabit virtually every type of low altitude wetland. A true survivors, population is estimated to be in the millions. Extremely adaptable. Distributed in Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (introduced), Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico (introduced), Suriname, Tobago, Trinidad, United States (introduced), Venezuela.
    • C. latirostris Broad-snouted caiman.
      
      Mid-size crocodilian with reported length of up to 11 feet. Proportionally wider head than any other species of crocodilian. Prefer densely vegetated, slow moving waterways, both fresh and brackish. Non-threatened. Found in eastern and central South America, including southeastern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia.
    • C. yacare Yacare caiman
      
      
      Small to medium size crocodilian. Males reach 8 feet, females usually less than 5. A distinct bony ridge runs between the eyes. Destributed in central South America; found in a variety of habitats - wetlands, rivers and lakes; often associated with floating mats of vegetation; has the southernmost distribution of all caimans. Currently this species accounts for 2/3 of the 1.5 million crocodilian hides produced annually for the international leather trade.
  • Melanosuchus
    • M. niger Black caiman
      
      
      Largest species within Alligatoridae with reported lengths exceeding 18 feet. Mostly black with yellowish or white cross-bands along the sides of the belly. Distributed in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru. Found in various freshwater habitats (e.g. slow-moving rivers, streams, lakes and flooded savannah and wetlands).
  • Paleosuchus
    • P. palpebrosus Cuvier's dwarf caiman
      
      
      One of smallest extant species of crocodilian, males reaching a maximum of 5-6 feet. Distributed in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela.
    • P. trigonatus Schneider's dwarf caiman or smooth-fronted caiman
      
      
      A small species of crocodilian with adults averaging from 5.5 to 7.5 feet. Dark brown with darker cross-bands on the back and tail. Head shape is smooth, high and box-like. One of the most armored species having bony plates throughout the hide. One of the most terrestrial species of crocodilians; adults often spend much of their time in burrows away from water. Widely distributed in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela.
• Crocodylinae Subfamily of crocodiles
  • Crocodylus
    • C. acutus American crocodile
      
      Found primarily in Central America; the most widespread of the four extant species of crocodiles from the Americas. Can be found in the United States, including Florida and Puerto Rico. Larger than some other crocodile species, with some males reaching lengths of 20 feet.
    • C. intermedius Orinoco crocodile
      
      
      One of the largest crocodilian species, historically reaching up to 20 feet in length. Adults are light yellow to yellowish green with gray or black cross-bands on the back and tail. Inhabit freshwater rivers of the middle and lower Orinoco river basin. Over hunting during 20^th century decimated the wild population of this species. Currently estimated at less than 250 adults.
    • C. johnstoni Australian freshwater crocodile, Johnston's crocodile
      
      
      Small to mid-size species, averaging 6 to 8 feet. Dark brown or olive green. Prefer freshwater lakes and swamps. No longer considered threatened. Distributed in Northern Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia).
    • C. mindorensis Philippine crocodile
      
      
      Small crocodilian species with males rarely exceeding 8 feet. Habitat is restricted to freshwater areas such as small lakes and ponds, small riverine tributaries and marshes. Critically endangered: no more than 100 individuals left in the wild.
    • C. moreletii Morelet's crocodile
      
      
      Mid-size fresh-water crocodilian. Distributed in Belize, Guatemala, Mexico. Low risk.
    • C. niloticus Nile crocodile
      
      
      The Nile crocodile is the largest crocodilian in Africa and with males weighing as much as 500 lbs (225 kg) together with lions (with some males exceeding 550 lb) is regarded as the largest African predator. Occur most frequently in coastal lagoons, estuaries, and in the rivers bordering the equatorial forest belt. In East Africa, they are found mostly in rivers, lakes, marshes, and dams.
    • C. novaeguineae New Guinea freshwater crocodile
      Distributed in Indonesia (Irian Jaya), Papua New Guinea.
    • C. palustris Indian mugger
      
      Mid-size crocodile, males reaching 16 1/2 feet. Found in a variety of freshwater habitats. This species has jaws that are superficially similar in shape to those of an alligator, although the fourth lower tooth is still visible. Vulnerable but not endangered. Distributed in Bangladesh, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, possibly areas of Indo-China.
    • C. porosus Australian saltwater crocodile
      
      Read MA et al. PLoS One. 2007 Sep 26;2(9):e949.
      Large male estuarine crocodiles have remarkable navigational skills, and may move long distances following a coastline - 10–30 km daily, often consecutively.
    • C. rhombifer Cuban freshwater crocodile
      
      
      Found only in the Zapata swamp of Southwestern Cuba and the Lanier swamp on the Isle of Pines. Canals cut through these swamps leading to the ocean have allowed the American crocodile, previously limited to coastal areas of Cuba, access to these interior wetlands. Hybridization between American and Cuban crocodiles now threatens the status of this species. Competition with introduced spectacled caiman has also become a major concern.
    • C. siamensis Siamese freshwater crocodile
      
      
      Mid-size crocodile, adults 13 feet. Dark olive, yellow, or brownish-green. Spotted with darker cross-bands on body and tail. Bony ridge running between eye orbits. One of the most endangered of all crocodilian species. Scattered populations in Laos and Cambodia.
  • Osteolaemus
    • O. tetraspis West African dwarf crocodile
      
      
      Smallest species of crocodile, males reach just under 6 feet. Heavily armored. High boxy head with a short, blunt snout. Little is known of this species, believed to prefer slow moving, calm bodies of water in swamp and swamp forests. At lower risk. Hide is of poor quality. Collected for food. Distributed in West Central Africa.
• Gavialinae Subfamily of gavials
  • Gavialis
    • G. gangeticus Indian gharial
      
      
      Known populations exist only in India and Nepal.
  • Tomistoma
    • T. schlegelii Malaysian gharial
      
      
      One of largest species of crocodilian, males reported at over 17 feet. Dark/chocolate brown, with black banding and blotches. Narrow snout designed for catching fish, but also known to catch larger prey. Inhabit freshwater lakes, rivers and swamps. Endangered. Wild population is estimated to be fewer than 2,5000. Distributed in Indonesia (Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, possibly Sulawesi), Malaysia (Malay Peninsula, Borneo).
• Mecistops
  • M. cataphractus African slender-snouted crocodile
    
    A mid-sized, highly aquatic crocodile species. Thirteen feet long males have been reported. Prefer riverine habitats in areas of dense vegetation. Wild population is severely depleted. Its historical range includes much of central and west Africa, ranging from Mauritania and Mali south to the coast and east to Zambia.

More about crocodilians at GeoChemBio.com