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The American Crocodile, also called the Florida Crocodile (Scientific name: Crocodylus acutus), is a crocodilian 'cousin' of the American Alligator that shares part of its habitat range with its 'gator relative in sub-tropical southern Florida. Interestingly, this area is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles share the same habitat!

This image of a crocodile (at left) clearly demonstrates the difference in appearance of the crocodile from the alligator; note the narrow snout, oddly arranged scales, and color.

(Image: © Israel Dupont)

Like other crocodiles, the resilient American Crocodile can live in saltwater habitat, and this ability combined with its superb hunting skills, physical power and other survival adaptations have enabled it to traverse the seas over time and settle populations as far north as the Everglades of Florida to the islands of the western Caribbean, to Mexico and the Northwest of the South American continent.

Size & Appearance (Morphology)

As a crocodilian, the American Crocodile is generally similar to the alligator, so you may refer to the profile of the American Alligator's physiology for reference.

This reptile is one of the larger crocodilians, attaining lengths of 16 ft/5 m, though larger sizes have been reported but unconfirmed. The males grow larger than the females. Babies at hatching are a mere 10 in/25 cm.

Unlike the typically dark coloration of the alligator, the crocodile is olive green in appearance, with darker patches, but water quality, as well as the presence of mud and other factors, may alter the color. Its teeth, like other crocodiles, is also more easily visible than an alligator's when its jaws are closed, especially the fourth lower tooth from the front, which fits into a notch in the upper jaw.

Another contrast with the alligator is the crocodile's tapered snout, more "acute" than the broad head of the alligator. The crocodile's 'scutes', those keeled, armor "tiles" on its neck and back, are fewer in number than the alligators, and more irregularly arranged.

Population

Despite its resilience, this reptile has had to adapt to the settlement of humans in the New World hemisphere, who destroy its habitat by development, hunt it for it for products such as meat and hide, and kill it out of fear. This crocodile is a relatively 'shy' animal compared to other crocodilians, and is less likely to remain visible in the vicinity of humans. (Image below: © istockphoto/Resbegeleidercom)

The reptile was in serious decline in Florida, and by 1970 was nearly extinct in the state, due mostly to decimation of its habitat by humans for their industrial and residential development. The crocodile was classified by U.S. wildlife authorities as endangered for many years. In 2007 the species was downlisted to the classification, "threatened," due to its steady increase in population, a benefit which occurred under legal protection, scientific study and other intensive conservation measures. In 1976, the crocodile population in South Florida was deemed to be 200 to 300 individuals; the population in 2007 had grown to an estimated 1,400 to 2,000, excluding hatchlings.

Distribution

In the U.S., the crocodile may be found in the nation's small tropical and subtropical region-- from the southernmost point of Florida in Key West, and as far north as the latitude of Lake Okeechobee.

While the species doesn't tolerate the lower temperatures that it alligator cousin can, there is a reliable report of a lone female croc (which did not appear to be a escapee from a zoo) which was found as far north as the St. Johns River in Brevard County in Central Florida in 1993, and confirmed croc sightings in 2008 in the Manatee River near the mouth of Tampa Bay. A small population has been thriving in Sumter County of North Central Florida, all released captives from a local crocodile farm.

(Image: © Israel Dupont)

These discoveries are curious clues regarding the species' possible extended range in Florida before human pressure had its deleterious effect. It should be noted that the appearance of these single specimens in the relative northerly range does not mean that a sustained population(s) is being established there.

Natural Importance

The crocodile plays its role in the circle of life of its habitat, in part by regulating animal populations. As an apex predator it controls the numbers when it takes animals as prey. Without such population "management," habitat elements can be destroyed by the over-use of certain species.

Human Conflict

While this crocodile has taken human life in its South American region, there is only one record of a wild croc of this species killing a human in its Florida range, involving a cruel provocation by a man, which led to his death by the crocodile. This incident demonstrates this animal's ability to kill when provoked, and the caution that should be exercised by humans living in their range.

The animal's recovery in the densely human-populated South Florida region may have an effect on its typically reclusive behavior, as it becomes behaviorally desensitized to presence of humans. Thus, a sound safety approach is to treat them as similar to alligators in their potential level of danger.

Their recovery has ironically placed them in Florida's "nuisance" animal management program alongside its cousin. Problem crocodiles are caught by licensed trappers and may be given to qualified zoos and wildlife parks, since relocating often results in the crocodile returning, even over long distance, to its origin. Magnets have been used by officials in the last couple of years - a magnet attached to the crocodile's head- to try to confuse its brain's ability to "home"; time will tell if such a practice is effective.

Habitat

The crocodile is able to swim the ocean, as noted above, but prefers to settle in marine, brackish or fresh waters like lagoons, streams, coastal tributaries, marshes and lakes, where prey food, as well as basking, hiding and nesting areas are more readily available. Like alligators, they prefer calmer waters, where mobility, hunting, resting and hiding are easier.

Diet

Its diet consists of mainly aquatic animals such as fish, crustaceans and turtles. However, being an opportunistic and powerful stealth hunter like the alligator, it will also take large birds, and mammals, including livestock and domestic pets.

As the animal is ectothermic (often called "cold-blooded"), it can only regulate its body temperature by measured exposure to warmth, and warmth optimizes its metabolism. Hence, it may cease eating entirely during the winter months, since the lower temperatures hinder its digestion.

In the image to the right, the crocodilian cousins' physical distinctions are readily seen as they cross paths in the water. (Image: © Israel Dupont)

Reproduction

This species mates during the drier season, such as late winter and early spring, with nest building following in March and egg-laying in late April or early May.

A crocodile mother builds a mound nest of vegetation debris in which she deposits up to 60, possibly even 80 eggs, the average clutch a little more than half of that number (in parts of its range where little or no debris is available, she'll dig nest holes in sand banks). At hatching time, about 100 days after laying, the mother may assist the babies from their eggs, as other crocodilians do. While parental guarding of the nest occurs, ongoing parental care for the babies is limited.

Survival

A challenge for the crocodile's progression is its natural survival rate; only a relative few of the hatchlings will survive to adulthood, being preyed upon by large birds and fish, raccoons and other predators. Larger ones may die from injuries inflicted by other crocodiles or from conflict with humans, like those resulting in an automobile colliding with the reptile.

Suggested Print & Video Publications

There is a scarcity of available publications dealing with the American Crocodile, but here are two worth consideration:

For your convenience, these publications may be purchased in the online Shop. Click on the video image to enlarge it.

Books

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT COMPANY (1987) Florida's Alligators and Crocodiles

*Find more publications about alligators in the Crocodopolis Bibliography of crocodilian-subject literature, here.

Video

World's Last Great Places: Everglades: Secrets of the Swamp

(1997) National Geographic Video, VHS NTSC; 60 mins.

*Find more videos in the Crocodopolis Filmography of alligator video presentations, here.

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