Types of Crocodiles and their Characteristics

Crocodiles are animals from the Reptilia class and which in turn are part of the Crocodylia order, which includes other reptiles such as alligators, gharials and also true crocodiles, that is, those of the Crocodylidae family. If you want to learn more about all the types of crocodiles that exist, keep reading this article.

types of crocodiles

Types of Crocodiles

The ancestors of these great and majestic reptiles are usually called crurotaros and according to all the scientific studies that have been carried out in this regard, these animals appeared approximately 240 million years ago. At the time, these large reptiles reached gigantic sizes and colonized almost the entire world.

Despite this, today there are only about 23 different species that are distributed throughout all the warmer regions of the world. Throughout their history, these reptiles within the different cultures that have inhabited the earth represent the gods of fertility, despicable soul eaters and have also been considered symbols of power.

Crocodile Characteristics

All crocodiles are extremely carnivorous and predatory animals. In turn, these animals have a semi-aquatic way of life in which they can be out of the water for several hours; They do not usually have many problems to function and walk outside the aquatic environment. Normally, these reptiles can be seen gathering in considerably large groups basking in the sun, this is because crocodiles are ectothermic animals, that is, they need sunlight to increase their entire body temperature.

Among its anatomical characteristics, one of the most outstanding is its skin, which is extremely hard, is made up of scales and can be presented in different colors such as brown, green or even black. This particular skin makes it easy for them to camouflage themselves while they are still on the surface of the water where they usually live, they do this while waiting for possible prey to approach them.

Crocodiles also have some physical characteristics that allow them to be completely still in the water for a long time, they have eyes and a nose on the top of their head, in this way, crocodiles can breathe and observe each and every one of the movements that are happening around you.

Now, about their behavior, they are animals that have a fairly social nature, although they are also very dominant; in fact, the reality is that crocodiles are one of the few reptiles that make vocalizations. In addition to this social nature, the reproductive attitude of the females can be highlighted, who will always take care of all their eggs in an effective way and then, in the future, their small offspring.

types of crocodiles

Where do crocodiles live?

As mentioned above, the ancestors of crocodiles date back to approximately 240 million years ago and they could have spread over almost the entire planet. Despite this great domain in the past, today its population is limited only to different areas of the Asian continent, America, Oceania, and also Africa. Within these places, they are usually seen in the equator and also in the tropics, where temperatures are high enough for them to reproduce without problems.

In general, the natural habitats of crocodiles are large swamps, rivers and also lakes. Due to the occupation of the human being and everything that has caused climate change, the ecosystems where these reptiles live have become very vulnerable and over time they have been gradually disappearing. In fact, all climate change has caused many of the crocodile species that exist today to be considered in serious danger of extinction.

How many types are there?

The entire order Crocodylia is made up of families or various types of crocodiles. Among these types you can find some such as the following:

  • Alligatoridae, or better known caiman or alligators
  • Gaviallidae, also called gharial crocodiles
  • Crodylidae, the true crocodiles

Next, the species of crocodiles that are within these families and their characteristics:

gharial crocodiles

The Gaviallidae, or also known mostly as gharial crocodiles, are crocodilian reptiles that are part of the Gaviallidae family, although there has always been some controversy surrounding their taxonomy. Gavial crocodiles are characterized in a great way by having bulging eyes and a snout that is much longer and thinner compared to that of the other reptiles of this order. It is a quite useful nose when hunting fish, which constitute almost all of its diet.

The great majority of the gavial crocodiles that have existed ended up disappearing in the extinction that occurred in the Triassic-Jurassic; Today there are only two well-known gharial species left in the world, these are the following:

  • Tomistoma schlegelii, or known as False GavialThese reptiles usually live mainly in some regions of Asia, specifically in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
  • Gavialis gangeticus, or known as Gharial CrocodileIt also lives in Asia, but only in the more swampy regions of the Ganges River, in India.

types of crocodiles

Caimans or alligators

Alligators or more popularly known as alligators, are crocodile-like reptiles that, in turn, make up the entire family called Alligatoridae. These crocodiles differ from the other types that exist by having a very wide and short snout. In addition to this, unlike what can happen in the Crocodylidae family, alligators completely lack salt-excreting glands, and due to this same characteristic, they can only live in fresh water. Within the entire family of alligators, eight completely different species of crocodiles or alligators can be found, which are grouped into the following 4 genera:

  • Melanosuchus niger, or also known as the Orinoco Black Caiman: These reptiles usually live mainly in the different areas of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers, which are located in South America.
  • Cayman, known as Yacarés or true Caimans: There are three different species of these crocodiles, the Caimán cocodrilus, the Caimán yacaré and also the Caimán latirostris, all of which live only in the Neotropics.
  • Alligator, or known as Alligators: Of these alligators there are only two different species. One of these is distributed throughout the Chinese territory, this animal is known as Alligator sinensis or Chinese alligator. On the other hand, we find the Alligator mississippiensis, or much better known as the American alligator, which are alligators that can only be found in the swamps and rivers of the southeastern United States of America.
  • Paleosuchus, or known as Dwarf Caimans: Within this genus you can find the dwarf alligator, or as its scientific name indicates, Paleosuchus palpebrosis; and also to Paleosuchus trigonatus, or known much more as caimán postruso. Both reptiles can only be found in different areas of the Amazon.

true crocodiles

Now, the Crocodylidae family is considered one of the most diverse of all the types of crocodiles that exist. According to more recent studies, these reptiles began to appear in Australasia at the beginning of the Eocene period, only approximately 56 million years ago. After this, the crocodiles began to conquer America and also Africa, continents where fresh water and also brackish water are considerably abundant.

Within the species of true crocodiles are included some of the largest species. An example of this is the Crocodylus niloticus, or better known as the Nile crocodile, a reptile that can reach a length that ranges between five and six meters. In addition to these, crocodiles are animals with a very long life expectancy, the most normal thing is that they live between 50 and 80 years. They are animals with quite strong and large muscles, in addition to their jaw that has great power; also, from this same jaw come their large teeth that when they close their mouth they are completely outside.

Another of its most outstanding characteristics is its snout, which tapers from its base to the tip, in addition to being more elongated compared to that of alligators. Above their eyes and their tongue, they have glands that excrete salt; for this same reason, true crocodiles can be found in waters with low salt levels, such as river deltas or marshes. This ability is the main reason that their ancestors were able to successfully cross the entire Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean on the trunks of trees that had drifted after a strong storm.

Today, there are only approximately 13 to 14 different species of true crocodiles, species of which are grouped into three different genera. These genres are as follows:

  • Crocodylus, or known as Crocodiles: This is the most diverse genus that exists of all types of crocodiles, and this genus encompasses about 11 species that are distributed throughout Africa, America, Oceania and also Asia. Among the best known species you can find the Crocodylus acutus, or better known as the American crocodile, and also the Crocodylus niloticus, or also known as the Nile crocodile, which is the only species that comes from Africa.
  • Osteolaemus tetraspis, or also Dwarf Crocodile: Today there has been a lot of debate about whether there are two species or just one. In any case, the populations of these two possible species inhabit only Africa.
  • Mecistops cataphractus, or also Slender-snouted crocodile: This is a species of crocodile that lives in southwestern Africa and today is in serious danger of extinction.

saltwater crocodiles

As mentioned above, true crocodiles, or known as Crocodylidae, have glands above their eyes and above their tongue that allow them to "cry" all the salt that is entering their body. The well-known expression “crocodile tears” appears from this characteristic, despite the fact that they are not really tears, but rather a fairly effective method for controlling the concentration of salt that may be in your body. This great feature has allowed many types of crocodiles to successfully enter the sea for millions of years.

Marine crocodile

Within the Crocodylidae family, there is a species known as the marine crocodile, this species is the Crocodylys porosus, which is a reptile that lives in different areas of South Asia, specifically in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and also the Philippines. These reptiles usually live mainly in swamps, rivers, brackish water estuaries and also in lakes, however, marine crocodiles have a very large capacity to tolerate waters with very high salt levels. For this reason, they can be seen in the seas to hunt some fish.

Thalatosuchians

There is a suborder called Thalattosuchia, which is a group of marine reptiles that are related to crocodiles. These animals were reptiles that had a lizard shape, fish fins and a crocodile head. During the Cretaceous period, these animals lived directly with the dinosaurs and inhabited the seas of much of the world until they finally became extinct. For this reason, they can be erroneously classified as some type of marine dinosaur.

The vast majority of these saltwater "crocodiles" had a fairly long snout, very similar to that of gharial crocodiles, leading to the belief that they fed mainly on fish. Many of these animals reached lengths that ranged between nine and ten meters, as was the Machimosaures rex. Due to their morphology, it has been thought that thalatosuchians were semi-terrestrial animals, so they could go out to the shores of the beaches to sunbathe or also to lay their eggs.

If you want to learn more about reptiles or different animals of the world, it is recommended that you do not leave the page without first having read one of these three articles:

water turtles

Reptile Characteristics

Lizard


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