American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
Factoid: American crocodiles can be distinguished
from American alligators by their longer, more narrow
snouts and by their lower teeth, which are visible even when
the crocodile's mouth is closed.
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 Status:
Endangered.
Population: There are approximately 500 to
1,200 American crocodiles in
Florida.
Threats: Once hunted intensively for their
hides, today poaching and the loss of habitat to human
development are the greatest threats faced by American
crocodiles.
Survival:
Crocodiles can reach 50 to 60 years of
age. |
 American crocodiles have long,
slender snouts, which distinguish them from their cousin the
alligator. Also unlike the alligator, the fourth tooth on the
bottom jaw of the American crocodile is visible when its mouth
is closed. Adult crocodiles are 7 to 15 feet long and
weigh 150 to 450 pounds.
American crocodiles
inhabit areas where fresh and salt waters mix, such as coastal
wetlands and canals. They are found in southern Florida,
the Caribbean, southern Mexico, and along the Central American
coast south to Venezuela.
Decidedly less
aggressive than the infamous Nile and Australian crocodiles,
American crocodiles are rarely seen by people. They eat
a variety of crabs, fish, waterfowl, and small
mammals.
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