The majestic but dangerous reptiles are one of the most ancient inhabitants of the planet Earth. During evolution, these reptiles decreased in size, but practically did not change their appearance. As zoologists have found out, their closest relatives are birds. Let's go on a trip to their habitats, and our review presents the most unusual and beautiful species of crocodiles.
The most unusual and amazingly beautiful crocodile species:
1
Black Cayman / Melanosuchus niger
According to the classification, a large Amazonian crocodile belongs to a large alligator family, but is distinguished as a separate species. Today, the area of its settlement is limited to the Amazon with its vast tributaries.
The scaly skin is dark in color, which is why the dangerous South American got its name. On average, black caimans grow to 4.6 m. But in nature, there were males whose length reached more than 5 m.
In recent decades, their population began to decline sharply. The reason is the actions of poachers. The deforestation, drainage of wetlands affect the population. There have been recorded cases of attacks on people that ended in the death of a person. But due to the remoteness of the habitats of this species of caimans, attacks occur infrequently.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the TOP 13 of the deadliest animals in the world.
2
American Crocodile / Crocodylus acutus
According to its habitat, it is also called American, since this species is widely spread in North, Central and Latin America. It was first described in 1807 by the French naturalist Georges Cuvier.
For life, he chooses mangrove swamps, thickets of estuaries, salty freshwater reservoirs. On land they move at a speed of up to 16 km / h, and in bodies of water they move at a speed of up to 32 km / h. The length of adult males reaches 4 meters, females a little less, not more than 3.5 meters.
Due to the demand for skin, this species was massively destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century. The number of individuals at the moment managed to stabilize, giving the mind a protective status. This allowed to punish hunters for valuable hide.
3
Hawaiian crocodile / Tomistoma schlegelii
They named this magnificent handsome man in honor of German Schlegel, a zoologist from Holland. But the name of the genus was composed of two ancient Greek words that mean "sharp mouth."
They are found on the islands of Indonesia, in Malaysia. Until recently, gavial crocodiles lived in Vietnam and Thailand, but today in these countries they are considered extinct. Males reach 6 meters in length. Females are smaller, no more than 5 meters.
It was believed that they are harmless to humans. The main argument is a narrow mouth. But in 2008, the female gavial ate a fisherman on an island, gape on the shore of a reservoir in Kalimantan. After this incident, people began to fear dangerous predators.
4
Cuvier smooth cayman / Paleosuchus palpebrosus
Small caimans live in the lowlands of the Amazon and in the north of the Latin American continent. Males do not exceed 210 cm in length, females grow up to 150 cm.
This species has unusual brown eyes with a vertical dark pupil. Rarely found individuals with yellowish-golden eyes. Small sizes allow them to move quickly on land and in water. Unpretentious in the maintenance, and easily feel in zoos.
It got its specific name from the structural features of the head, and the second name in honor of the famous Frenchman Georges Leopold de Cuvier.
5
Stupid Crocodile / Osteolaemus tetraspis
Due to its small size, it is also called dwarf, and it is the smallest crocodile living on our planet. He chose to live in freshwater in western Africa.
The size of adult individuals does not exceed 1.5 m. Local hunters caught specimens with a length of 1.9 m. Females are much smaller than males. Rare females reach sizes greater than 1.2 m.
They are nocturnal, hunting small animals. A secretive, quiet animal hides in holes in the afternoon. Crocodiles hatch from eggs with the help of a female, because they themselves can not cope with the shell due to their small size.
6
Crocodile Cayman / Caiman crocodilus
A small alligator has a narrowed muzzle. They grow no more than 1.8 meters in length. Crocodile caiman settled in Central and South America. Great swimmer. Overcoming the ocean, this cayman easily populated large islands close to Latin America.
These representatives of a huge family of toothy alligator can change skin color. They do it very slowly. They prefer moist lowlands, and during a period of drought they bury themselves in silt, hibernating.
The diet is dominated by many species of cephalopods, fish, and small amphibians. There are cases of cannibalism. In the rivers of the South American continent, the predator regulates the number of piranhas, gladly absorbing these dangerous fish. Due to their small size, they have many natural enemies. They are hunted by jaguars, anacondas.
7
Siamese crocodile / Crocodylus siamensis
In the photo is a resident of the South-East region of Asia. You can meet with a toothy predator on many islands, including Kalimantan. He prefers to settle in swamps, rivers with a slow flow, along the shores of freshwater lakes.
They grow up to 3–3.5 m in length. Young individuals have a light skin color, which darkens over time. The skin coarsens with age, and the scales on the neck change its location.
Offspring are ready for reproduction by the age of 10 years, and live on average from 60 to 90 years. The diet contains fish, small vertebrates, amphibians. Listed on the Red Book. Now on the planet there are no more than 5,000 individuals.
8
Gangian gavial / Gavialis gangeticus
The only representative of the amazing kind of gawials lives in the reservoirs and rivers of India and Nepal. Quite rare and, according to most-beauty.ru, a unique look. Despite the formidable appearance, they are not dangerous to humans.
Millions of years ago, several species of gavials lived on the planet, but only one survived. The oldest inhabitant of the planet reaches a length of 5.5 m. The color of the scales is dark, which allows the animal to easily hide in coastal thickets.
The most water of all crocodile. They are constantly in the water, and creep out on land only to warm themselves. Females emerge from the water to lay eggs.
Perhaps this is not the most beautiful crocodile, but the fact that its appearance is very unusual is a fact.
9
Paraguayan Cayman / Caiman yacare
It is difficult to call this giant handsome, but he also deserves attention. These caimans settled on the rivers, in the swamps and reservoirs of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay.
Grow up to 2 meters. Almost do not attack humans, hunting fish, small mammals, snakes. It can even attack the anaconda. They prefer to stay in small groups, as they are naturally shy by nature. Because of this, they do not try to attack large animals.
Locals call their jacquard. Now the population reaches about 2 thousand individuals, which does not cause concern among zoologists about their extinction.
10
Chinese alligator / Alligator sinensis
In the field of our attention came the representative of alligators. A rare, endangered species that lives in the Yangtze River Basin. Chinese zoologists estimate that in nature there are about 200 copies left.
First mentioned in ancient Chinese writings in the III millennium BC. The distribution area was much wider, but now it is limited to small areas of Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. Over the past 30 years, the population has declined 10 times. The pace is menacing.
They have a yellowish-gray body color with small dark spots on the jaws. They grow no more than 2.2 m., Lead a secretive lifestyle, and fall into hibernation in late autumn.
11
Nile Crocodile / Crocodylus niloticus
Large reptile, which received its species name by habitat. It is the largest predator in Africa. Easily copes with rhinos, lions, buffalos.
Under normal conditions, leads a sedentary lifestyle. They grow from 4.5 to 5.5 m. But in nature, individuals were found larger. In the Guinness Book of World Records, a male killed in 1948 near Lake Victoria is listed. Its length was 6.4 m. Like other types of females, smaller males.
Accurate statistics on attacks on people are not kept. Zoologists note that some males have developed a taste for human meat. So, in Burundi, a male nicknamed Gustav, who is a cannibal, lives.
12
Saltwater Crocodile / Crocodylus porosus
Meet the largest crocodile in the world. In addition, this is the largest reptile of all who live on earth. In wildlife there is no predator that is larger than it. There were specimens, the distance from the tip of the nose to the tail was 7 meters. The weight of such males reached 2 tons. The jaw clenches with tremendous force. By the power of a bite, he has no equal in the world of predators.
In the history of the earth, a giant crocodile appears about 4-4.5 million years ago. These are the direct descendants of the euzuhi crocodilomorphs who lived near fresh water bodies of the Gondwan supercontinent. We learned to live in salt water, because they are often called sea water.
It has the widest range of settlement. This species can be found from Vietnam to the northern coast of Australia. Settled almost all the islands of Oceania, where there are ponds and wetlands.
13
White crocodiles
We conclude our story with unusual coloring animals. Crocodile albino is a rather rare occurrence in nature, but several funny individuals live in national parks.
In Florida's Gatorland State Park, a handsome Buia Blanc lives. His skin is almost white, and his eyes are blue. He has a special pigmentation called leukimism. Caught as a cub, he easily mastered in the enclosures of a nature park.
In the crocodile palace of German Stuttgart, next to normal relatives, an unusual white crocodile lives. This is a favorite of the public, but scientists warn that skin color will not change the aggressive nature of a predatory animal.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru you can find out about the TOP-10 tragic facts about albino people in Africa.
Who is stronger?
Now let's try to answer an almost rhetorical question, who is stronger than a crocodile or an alligator? In the wild, these reptiles rarely come to grips. They just have different habitats.
But, if such a fight does occur, it all depends on the type and nature of a particular animal. Crocodiles are larger, the jaws have more power, the bite is stronger, which means they are potentially stronger.
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Conclusion
Crocodiles are the only surviving representatives of the oldest reptiles archosaurs. Most of their ancestors became extinct along with dinosaurs by the beginning of the Cenozoic period, about 68 million years ago. Those who survived easily adapted to the semi-aquatic way of life, and paleontologists find the remains of their ancestors in the Cretaceous and coal deposits.
The editors of most-beauty asks you to write in the comments which types of crocodiles you like best. And below we decided to post some more interesting photos of beautiful and unusual crocodiles.
More photos:
On this our article came to an end. Thanks for your attention.