List of crocodilians
Crocodilia is an order of mostly large, predatory, semiaquatic reptiles, which includes true crocodiles, the alligators and caimans, and the gharial and false gharial. A member of this order is called a crocodilian, or colloquially a crocodile.
The 9 genera and 27 species of Crocodilia are split into 3 subfamilies: Alligatoridae, alligators and caimans; Crocodylidae, true crocodiles; and Gavialidae, the gharial and false gharial.
Conventions[]
IUCN Red List categories | |
---|---|
Conservation status | |
EX | Extinct (0 species) |
EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
CR | Critically Endangered (7 species) |
EN | Endangered (0 species) |
VU | Vulnerable (4 species) |
NT | Near threatened (0 species) |
LC | Least concern (12 species) |
Other categories | |
DD | Data deficient (0 species) |
NE | Not evaluated (4 species) |
Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the crocodilian's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN red list for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species or subspecies listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "". Population figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
Classification[]
The order Crocodilia consists of 27 extant species belonging to 9 genera. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. Modern molecular studies indicate that the 9 genera can be grouped into 3 families.
Family Alligatoridae (Alligators and caimans)
- Genus Alligator: two species
- Genus Caiman: three species
- Genus Melanosuchus: two species
- Genus Paleosuchus: two species
Family Crocodylidae (True crocodiles)
- Genus Crocodylus: fourteen species
- Genus Mecistops: two species
- Genus Osteolaemus: one species
Family Gavialidae (Gharial and false gharial)
Crocodilians[]
Family Alligatoridae[]
The extant Alligatoridae can be recognised by the broad snout, in which the fourth tooth of the lower jaw cannot be seen when the mouth is closed.[1]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
American alligator
|
A. mississippiensis Daudin, 1801 |
Southeastern United States |
Size: up to 450 kg (1,000 lb) Habitat: Wetlands (inland), intertidal marine, and coastal marine[2] Diet: [2] |
LC
|
Chinese alligator
|
A. sinensis Fauvel, 1879 |
Eastern China |
Size: up to 45 kg (100 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[3] Diet: [3] |
CR
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Broad-snouted caiman
|
C. latirostris Daudin, 1802 |
Southeastern South America |
Size: up to 62 kg (137 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands and intertidal marine[4] Diet: [4] |
LC
|
Spectacled caiman
|
C. crocodilus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Northern South America and Central America |
Size: up to 58 kg (128 lb) Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[5] Diet: [5] |
LC
|
Yacare caiman
|
C. yacare Daudin, 1802 |
Central and southern South America |
Size: up to 58 kg (128 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[6] Diet: [6] |
LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black caiman
|
M. niger Spix, 1825 |
Northern South America |
Size: up to 680 kg (1,500 lb) Habitat: [7] Diet: [7] |
LC
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cuvier's dwarf caiman
|
P. palpebrosus Cuvier, 1807 |
Northern and central South America |
Size: Habitat: Inland wetlands[8] Diet: [8] |
LC
|
Smooth-fronted caiman
|
P. trigonatus Schneider, 1801 |
Northern South America |
Size: Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[9] Diet: [9] |
LC
|
Subfamily Crocodylidae[]
The extant Crocodylidae have a variety of snout shapes, but can be recognised because the fourth tooth of the lower jaw is visible when the mouth is closed.[1]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
American crocodile
|
C. acutus Cuvier, 1807 |
Northern South America, Central America, Greater Antilles |
Size: up to 907 kg (2,000 lb) Habitat: Forest, neritic marine, intertidal marine, and coastal marine[10] Diet: [10] |
VU
|
Borneo crocodile | C. raninus Müller, 1844 |
Borneo | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
NE
|
Cuban crocodile
|
C. rhombifer Cuvier, 1807 |
Cuba |
Size: up to 215 kg (474 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[11] Diet: [11] |
CR
|
Freshwater crocodile
|
C. johnstoni Krefft, 1873 |
Northern Australia |
Size: up to 100 kg (220 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[12] Diet: [12] |
LC
|
Hall's New Guinea crocodile | C. halli Murray, , , , |
New Guinea | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
NE
|
Morelet's crocodile
|
C. moreletii Duméril, 1851 |
Eastern Mexico |
Size: up to 136 kg (300 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[13] Diet: [13] |
LC
|
Mugger crocodile
|
C. palustris Lesson, 1831 |
Southern Asia |
Size: up to 450 kg (1,000 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands and neritic marine[14] Diet: [14] |
VU
|
New Guinea crocodile
|
C. novaeguineae Schmidt, 1928 |
New Guinea |
Size: Habitat: Inland wetlands[15] Diet: [15] |
LC
|
Nile crocodile
|
C. niloticus Laurenti, 1768 |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
Size: up to 1,089 kg (2,400 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands, neritic marine, intertidal marine, and coastal marine[16] Diet: [16] |
LC
|
Orinoco crocodile
|
C. intermedius Graves, 1819 |
Northern South America |
Size: up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) Habitat: Forest, savanna, and inland wetlands[17] Diet: [17] |
CR
|
Philippine crocodile
|
C. mindorensis Schmidt, 1935 |
Philippines |
Size: up to 190 kg (420 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[18] Diet: [18] |
CR
|
Saltwater crocodile
|
C. porosus Schneider, 1801 |
South and Southeast Asia, northern Australia and Oceania |
Size: up to 1,360 kg (3,000 lb) Habitat: [19] Diet: [19] |
LC
|
Siamese crocodile
|
C. siamensis Schneider, 1801 |
Southeast Asia |
Size: up to 350 kg (770 lb) Habitat: Inland wetlands[20] Diet: [20] |
CR
|
West African crocodile
|
C. suchus Geoffroy, 1807 |
Western and central Africa | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
NE
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Central African slender-snouted crocodile
|
M. leptorhynchus Bennett, 1835 |
Central Africa | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
NE
|
West African slender-snouted crocodile
|
M. cataphractus F. Cuvier, 1825 |
Western Africa | Size: up to 325 kg (717 lb) Habitat: Forest, savanna, inland wetlands, neritic marine, and coastal marine[21] Diet: [21] |
CR
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dwarf crocodile
|
O. tetraspis Cope, 1861 |
Western Africa |
Size: Habitat: [22] Diet: [22] |
VU
|
Family Gavialidae[]
Gavialidae can be recognised by the long narrow snout, with an enlarged boss at the tip.[1]
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
Gharial
|
G. gangeticus Gmelin, 1789 |
Scattered south Asia |
Size: up to 820 kg (1,800 lb) Habitat: Wetlands (inland)[23] Diet: [23] |
CR
|
Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
---|---|---|---|---|
False gharial
|
T. schlegelii Müller, 1838 |
Southeast Asia |
Size: up to 450 kg (1,000 lb) Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[24] Diet: [24] |
VU
|
References[]
- ^ a b c Lang, J. W. (2002). "Crocodilians". In Halliday, T.; Adler, K. (eds.). The Firefly Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. Firefly Books. pp. 212–221. ISBN 978-1-55297-613-5.
- ^ a b c Elsey, R.; Woodward, A.; Balaguera-Reina, S. A. (2019). "Alligator mississippiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46583A3009637. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T46583A3009637.en.
- ^ a b c Jiang, H.; Wu, X. (2018). "Alligator sinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T867A3146005. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T867A3146005.en.
- ^ a b c Siroski, P.; Bassetti, L. A. B.; Piña, C.; Larriera, A. (2020). "Caiman latirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T46585A3009813. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T46585A3009813.en.
- ^ a b c Balaguera-Reina, S. A.; Velasco, A. (2019). "Caiman crocodilus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46584A3009688. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T46584A3009688.en.
- ^ a b c Campos, Z.; Llobet, A.; Magnusson, W. E.; Piña, C. (2020). "Caiman yacare". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T46586A3009881. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T46586A3009881.en.
- ^ a b c Ross, J. P. (2000). "Melanosuchus niger". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2000: e.T13053A3407604. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T13053A3407604.en.
- ^ a b c Magnusson, W. E.; Campos, Z.; Muniz, F. (2019). "Paleosuchus palpebrosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46587A3009946. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T46587A3009946.en.
- ^ a b c Campos, Z.; Magnusson, W. E.; Muniz, F. (2019). "Paleosuchus trigonatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46588A3010035. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T46588A3010035.en.
- ^ a b c Ponce-Campos, P.; Thorbjarnarson, J.; Velasco, A. (IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group). (2012). "Crocodylus acutus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T5659A3043244. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T5659A3043244.en.
- ^ a b c Targarona, R. R.; Soberón, R. R.; Cotayo, L.; Tabet, M. A.; Thorbjarnarson, J. (2017) [errata version of 2008 assessment]. "Crocodylus rhombifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T5670A11516438. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T5670A11516438.en.
- ^ a b c Isberg, S.; Balaguera-Reina, S. A.; Ross, J. P. (2017). "Crocodylus johnstoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T46589A3010118. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T46589A3010118.en.
- ^ a b c Cedeño-Vázquez, J. R.; Platt, S. G.; Thorbjarnarson, J. (IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group). (2012). "Crocodylus moreletii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T5663A3045579. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T5663A3045579.en.
- ^ a b c Choudhury, B. C.; de Silva, A. (2013). "Crocodylus palustris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T5667A3046723. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T5667A3046723.en.
- ^ a b c Solmu, G.; Manolis, C. (2019). "Crocodylus novaeguineae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T46591A3010398. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T46591A3010398.en.
- ^ a b c Isberg, S.; Combrink, X.; Lippai, C.; Balaguera-Reina, S. A. (2019). "Crocodylus niloticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T45433088A3010181. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T45433088A3010181.en.
- ^ a b c Balaguera-Reina, S. A.; Espinosa-Blanco, A.; Antelo, R.; Morales-Betancourt, M.; Seijas, A. (2020) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Crocodylus intermedius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T5661A181089024. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T5661A181089024.en.
- ^ a b c van Weerd, M.; C. Pomaro, C.; de Leon, J.; Antolin, R.; Mercado, V. (2016). "Crocodylus mindorensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T5672A3048281. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T5672A3048281.en.
- ^ a b c Crocodile Specialist Group (1996). "Crocodylus porosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T5668A11503588. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T5668A11503588.en.
- ^ a b c Bezuijen, M.; Simpson, B.; Behler, N.; Daltry, J.; Tempsiripong, Y. (2012). "Crocodylus siamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T5671A3048087. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T5671A3048087.en.
- ^ a b c Shirley, M. H. (2014). "Mecistops cataphractus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T5660A3044332. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T5660A3044332.en.
- ^ a b c Crocodile Specialist Group (1996). "Osteolaemus tetraspis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T15635A4931429. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T15635A4931429.en.
- ^ a b c Lang, J; Chowfin, S.; Ross, J. P. (2019) [errata version of 2019 assessment]. "Gavialis gangeticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T8966A149227430. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T8966A149227430.en.
- ^ a b c Bezuijen, M. R.; Shwedick, B.; Simpson, B. K.; Staniewicz, A.; Stuebing, R. (2014). "Tomistoma schlegelii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T21981A2780499. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T21981A2780499.en.
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