AMERICAN CROCODILE
Crocodylus
acutus
Although
sometimes people confuse alligators with crocodiles,
crocodiles are quite different. Crocodiles are
olive green, light brown, or grayish in color with
light undersides. The young have dark stripes
across their back and tail that fades with age. Their
face is thin and pointed, and they have a very toothy
smile! Unlike alligators, both the upper and
lower teeth stick out on a crocodile. Male crocodiles
can grow to about 15 feet and females occasionally
grow over 12 feet. RANGE
AND HABITAT: Crocodiles
only live in the very southern portion of Florida,
but can also be found in the coastal areas of
South America, Central America, Mexico, and the
Caribbean Islands. They are very shy animals,
and are rarely seen near people. They prefer
living in mangrove swamps along the coast.
REPRODUCTION: Up
to three months before they are ready to lay their
eggs, female crocodiles begin digging around their
nest site. Every night they will return to
the same area to loosen the soil, and sometimes
will dig a den nearby to hide in. In late
April or early May the females will lay their eggs
(anywhere between eight and 80 have been found
in a nest). Almost three months later the
eggs will hatch. Towards the end,
the female will lay on the nest every night waiting
to feel the movement of the young hatching; then
she will dig up the nest and take the new babies
out to the water.
DIET:
Crocodiles are carnivores, and will eat just about
any suitably
sized animal they can catch. They particularly
enjoy fish and water birds.
FUTURE: The American Crocodile is critically endangered in Florida. Scientists estimate only about 20-25
active nesting sites exist in the entire state! Even
though they are well protected and no longer
hunted, they are still having problems with
loss of habitat.
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