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List of crocodilians

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Three extant crocodilian species clockwise from top-left: saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), and gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

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 28 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 (5 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 28 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)

Family Crocodylidae (True crocodiles)

Family Gavialidae (Gharial and false gharial)

Crocodilians

Family Alligatoridae

Main article: 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]

Genus Alligator – Cuvier, 1807 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
American alligator

A. mississippiensis
Daudin, 1801 		Southeastern United States
Map of range 		Size: up to 450 kg (990 lb)

Habitat: Wetlands (inland), intertidal marine, and coastal marine[2]

Diet: [2] 		 LC 


750,000–1,060,000 Population increasing[2]

Chinese alligator

A. sinensis
Fauvel, 1879 		Eastern China
Map of range 		Size: up to 45 kg (99 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[3]

Diet: [3] 		 CR 


50–100 Population steady[3]

Genus Caiman – Spix, 1825 – three species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Spectacled caiman

C. crocodilus
Linnaeus, 1758 		Northern South America and Central America
Map of range 		Size: up to 45 kg (99 lb)

Habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland, grassland, and inland wetlands[4]

Diet: [4] 		 LC 


1,000,000 Population steady[4]

Broad-snouted caiman

C. latirostris
Daudin, 1802 		Southeastern South America
Map of range 		Size: up to 50 kg (110 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands and intertidal marine[5]

Diet: [5] 		 LC 


500,000 Population steady[5]

Yacare caiman

C. yacare
Daudin, 1802 		Central and southern South America
Map of range 		Size: up to 60 kg (130 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[6]

Diet: [6] 		 LC 


2,000,000–5,000,000 Population steady[6]

Genus Melanosuchus – Gray, 1862 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Black caiman

M. niger
Spix, 1825 		Northern South America
Map of range 		Size: up to 500 kg (1,100 lb)

Habitat: [7]

Diet: [7] 		 LC 


Roughly 1,000,000 Unknown[7]

Genus Paleosuchus – Gray, 1862 – two species
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
Map of range 		Size: typically 6–7 kg (13–15 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[8]

Diet: [8] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[8]

Smooth-fronted caiman

P. trigonatus
Schneider, 1801 		Northern South America
Map of range 		Size: typically 9–20 kg (20–44 lb)

Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[9]

Diet: [9] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[9]

Family Crocodylidae

Main article: 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]

Genus Crocodylus – Laurenti, 1768 – fourteen species
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
Map of range 		Size: up to 500 kg (1,100 lb)

Habitat: Forest, neritic marine, intertidal marine, and coastal marine[10]

Diet: [10] 		 VU 


Unknown Population increasing[10]

Hall's New Guinea crocodile


C. halli
Murray, Russo, Zorrilla, McMahan, 		New Guinea Size: up to 3.5 m (11 ft) for males and 2.7 m (8.9 ft) for females

Habitat: Swamps, rivers, and lakes

Diet: 		 NE 


50,000–100,000 Unknown

Orinoco crocodile

C. intermedius
Graves, 1819 		Northern South America
Map of range 		Size: up to 635 kg (1,400 lb)

Habitat: Forest, savanna, and inland wetlands[11]

Diet: [11] 		 CR 


90–250 Population declining[11]

Freshwater crocodile

C. johnstoni
Krefft, 1873 		Northern Australia
Map of range 		Size: up to 100 kg (220 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[12]

Diet: [12] 		 LC 


Unknown Population steady[12]

Philippine crocodile

C. mindorensis
Schmidt, 1935 		Philippines
Map of range 		Size: up to 90 kg (200 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[13]

Diet: [13] 		 CR 


50–150 Population declining[13]

Morelet's crocodile

C. moreletii
Duméril, 1851 		Eastern Mexico
Map of range 		Size: up to 150 kg (330 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[14]

Diet: [14] 		 LC 


79,000–100,000 Population steady[14]

Nile crocodile

C. niloticus
Laurenti, 1768 		Sub-Saharan Africa
Map of range 		Size: up to 750 kg (1,650 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands, neritic marine, intertidal marine, and coastal marine[15]

Diet: [15] 		 LC 


50,000–70,000 Population steady[15]

New Guinea crocodile

C. novaeguineae
Schmidt, 1928 		New Guinea
Map of range 		Size: up to 200 kg (440 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[16]

Diet: [16] 		 LC 


100,000 Population steady[16]

Mugger crocodile

C. palustris
Lesson, 1831 		Southern Asia
Map of range 		Size: up to 400 kg (880 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands and neritic marine[17]

Diet: [17] 		 VU 


5,700–8,700 Population steady[17]

Saltwater crocodile

C. porosus
Schneider, 1801 		South and Southeast Asia, northern Australia and Oceania
Map of range 		Size: up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)

Habitat: [18]

Diet: [18] 		 LC 


Unknown Unknown[18]

Borneo crocodile


C. raninus
Müller, 1844 		Borneo Size:

Habitat:

Diet: 		 NE 


Unknown Unknown

Cuban crocodile

C. rhombifer
Cuvier, 1807 		Cuba
Map of range 		Size: up to 215 kg (474 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[19]

Diet: [19] 		 CR 


3,000–5000 Unknown[19]

Siamese crocodile

C. siamensis
Schneider, 1801 		Southeast Asia
Map of range 		Size: up to 120 kg (260 lb)

Habitat: Inland wetlands[20]

Diet: [20] 		 CR 


500–1,000 Population declining[20]

West African crocodile

C. suchus
Geoffroy, 1807 		Western and central Africa Size:

Habitat:

Diet: 		 NE 


Unknown Unknown

Genus Mecistops – Gray, 1844 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
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 


1,000–20,000 Population declining[21]

Central African slender-snouted crocodile

M. leptorhynchus
Bennett, 1835 		Central Africa Size:

Habitat:

Diet: 		 NE 


Unknown Unknown

Genus Osteolaemus – Cope, 1861 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Osborn's dwarf crocodile

O. osborni
Schmidt, 1919 		Congo Basin Size:

Habitat:

Diet: 		 NE 


Unknown Unknown

Dwarf crocodile

O. tetraspis
Cope, 1861 		Western Africa
Map of range 		Size:

Habitat: [22]

Diet: [22] 		 VU 


Unknown Unknown[22]

Family Gavialidae

Main article: Gavialidae

Gavialidae can be recognised by the long narrow snout, with an enlarged boss at the tip.[1]

Genus Gavialis – Oppel, 1811 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Gharial

G. gangeticus
Gmelin, 1789 		Scattered south Asia
Map of range 		Size: up to 680 kg (1,500 lb)

Habitat: Wetlands (inland)[23]

Diet: [23] 		 CR 


300–900 Population increasing[23]

Genus Tomistoma – Müller, 1846 – one species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
False gharial

T. schlegelii
Müller, 1838 		Southeast Asia
Map of range 		Size: up to 270 kg (600 lb)

Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[24]

Diet: [24] 		 VU 


2,500–10,000 Population declining[24]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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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