American Crocodile

Organisms / Vertebrates / Reptiles

Crocodylus acutus

Flamingo Recreation Area Marina, Everglades National Park (25.143N, 80.923W) and West Lake, Everglades National Park (25.215N, 80.850W)

March 19, 2008

Photograph by Gretchen Bell

Descriptive Information

Field Marks: “Coloration is gray to tannish-gray or dark greenish-gray with dusky markings” (Carmichael and Williams, 142). A crocodile can be distinguished from an alligator because of several things like its long narrow snout and its fourth tooth, which protrudes when its mouth is closed (the alligator’s fourth tooth is hidden).
Size: 7 1/2-12 feet long.
General Habitat: Saltwater.
Range: “The tip of the Everglades, Florida Bay, Upper Keys” (Alden et al., 297).

Field Observations
The first crocodile we observed was at Flamingo, in the water directly below us. It appeared to be dark green, but it was easily distinguished from an alligator because of its different facial profile. The crocodile was half swimming and half floating in the water. We then observed two other crocodiles on the far shore. They were both sunbathing, lying half in and half out of the water. We could also see the teeth sticking out from one of the crocodile’s jaws. Both had a sandy green olive coloring while on the shore. Eventually, one by one, they began to swim away from the shore under the bridge into the marina. When they did swim, they stayed relatively close to the shore and moved in a single file line. One of our group members, standing on the bridge, scared the second crocodile, which responded, not by showing signs of aggression, but by quickly making a splash and submerging.

At West Lake we observed a huge crocodile sunbathing on the far shore from us. The crocodile was grayish green in color. Then we observed another larger crocodile swimming toward the spot on the beach. At his appearance the first crocodile began to display signs of aggression. He opened his jaws wide and chopped them shut several times. Due to the distance we could not hear if the first crocodile was making any other noises. This did not deter the second crocodile, and it kept swimming toward the coveted beach spot. Eventually, the first crocodile backed off slowly into the water and swam to another spot on the shore a couple of yards away.

In all, we and other members from our group observed a total of six crocodiles. This number was much higher than previous groups’ experiences; they were lucky to see even one.

There are only about 500-600 American Crocodiles remaining in Florida, placing them on the endangered species list. South Florida is the Northern limit for the crocodile as it is less adapted for cold than the alligator. It is a common misconception that crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators. In all actuality, the Florida species of crocodile is actually a lot shyer than the alligators. Female crocodiles build their nests by constructing a mound of sand, then digging a hole in the middle, and laying the eggs in it. Though they have been known to abandon their nests when scared, when the eggs hatch the cry of the baby crocodiles prompts the adult crocodiles to use their mouths to carry the baby crocodiles to the water. Fewer than half of the baby crocodiles that are hatched survive since many are gobbled up by wading birds and other predators. Crocodiles live on a diet of water birds, small mammals, marine invertebrates, and fish. The crocodile must have freshwater to avoid dehydration. This necessity generally comes from a thin film that forms on the surface of the saltwater after a rainfall. Crocodile have even been observed drinking rainwater directly as it falls.

References
Alden, Peter, Richard B. Cech, Amy Leventer, Gil Nelson, and Wendy B. Zomlefer. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.

Carmichael, Pete, and Winston Williams. Florida’s Fabulous Reptiles and Amphibians. Tampa: World Publications, 2006.

Additional Photographs/Videos
Sunning

Page developed by Andrea Christensen and Gretchen Bell