American Crocodile
The scientific name of the American Crocodile is Crocodylus acutus. It’s the most widespread crocodile species of the Americas. The American Crocodile inhabits the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America and breeds on Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola. A small population of about 2,000 species is also found in Florida, USA. The American Crocodile inhabits river mouths, mangrove swamps, salt lakes, and brackish coastal waters. It’s susceptible to cold and can drown in cold water. That’s why these reptiles never spread north, unlike their relatives, the American Alligators.
Like all other crocodiles, this species is characterized by a rough and scaled hide. Young American Crocodiles are olive brown with darker bands on the body and tail; adults are uniformly brown with cross-bands on the tail. The average body length of the American Crocodile is 4 m with about 180 kg in weight, but some males reach over 6 m in length. The largest specimens of the American Crocodile are found in river basins in the South America. Normally, these animals crawl along on the belly, but when needed, they can walk on their legs and even gallop. American Crocodiles are able to move fast both in water and on the ground, but cannot last for a long time.
The average lifespan of the American Crocodile is 40 to 60 years in the wild. At about 8-10 years of age, American Crocodiles reach sexual maturity. Females make a nest and lay about 20-60 eggs at a time. The sex of the hatchlings depends on the temperature in the nest.
The American Crocodile is an opportunistic feeder. Young crocodiles feed on insects, crabs, and frogs. Mature reptiles take advantage of fish and larger mammals. A strong American Crocodile can kill a bull. In Mexico, Costa Rica, and Guatemala, attacks on humans occur from time to time, but they are rarely documented, that’s why this species has not gained the reputation of a man-eater. The conservation status of the species is vulnerable (threatened.) The main threats to the American Crocodile are habitat distraction and pollution, hunting and poaching for skin, and removal adult reptiles from the wild for commercial farming.
