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53-675: This river maintains the main Orinoco crocodile ( Crocodylus intermedius ) population, which is classified as critically endangered . Yellow-spotted river turtle nests have also been found along the Cojedes River, and artificial nesting sites have been created to help conservation efforts for this species as well. This article related to a river in Venezuela is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Orinoco crocodile The Orinoco crocodile ( Crocodylus intermedius )

106-622: A bite force of 6,276  N (1,411  lb f ). The Orinoco crocodile ranks among the largest living reptiles , as well as the largest predator in the Americas. It is arguably, on average, the largest crocodilian in the Americas; while American crocodiles , black caimans and the American alligator may approach similar dimensions, the Orinoco crocodile may be (or had been, when in healthy numbers) slightly longer. Given its possible maximum sizes,

159-536: A change of strategy to concentrate on raising the saltwater crocodile, and demand for the eggs and juveniles of the New Guinea crocodile dried up. Since then, cropping of wild animals has been controlled in both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. In the former it is limited to a belly width of 25 to 51 cm (10 to 20 in) for wet skins and in the latter to salted skins with a belly width of 18 to 51 cm (7 to 20 in). Some eggs and hatchlings are still removed from

212-517: A fisherman in 2009, was serious but not fatal. A second survivor was reported in 2011 to live in La Palmita at the Cojedes River , but any details of this attack (including when exactly it happened) are lacking. When water recedes in the dry season , Orinoco crocodiles retreat to burrows they excavate into the riverbanks. The adult pair mates during the drier period of the year. Adult males attract

265-409: A length of as much as 4.1 to 4.8 m (13 to 16 ft) as they grow throughout life, perhaps weighing 500 to 700 kg (1,100 to 1,500 lb) in big specimens, while females may grow over the expected size of 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in) in length and may sometimes exceed 225 kg (496 lb). According to Guinness Records , the average length of adults that they were able to examine

318-494: A length of up to 3.5 m (11 ft) for males and 2.7 m (8.9 ft) for females, and can weigh up to 200 kg (440 lb), although most specimens are smaller. In a study, two crocodiles measuring 2.91 to 3.15 m (9 ft 7 in – 10 ft 4 in) and weighing 123–186 kg (271–410 lb) had a bite force in the range of 4,782–5,938  N (1,075–1,335  lb f ). The body ranges from grey to brown in colour, with darker bandings on

371-600: A mixture of soil and rotting vegetation for around three months. The most common predator of buried eggs are tegu lizards although the tegus are sometimes caught and killed by the mother crocodile. During the night the young hatch and call to their mother; she digs them out of the nest and carries them to the water, which is considerably higher at this point. Young Orinoco crocodiles are often at risk from predation by American black vultures , tegu lizards , anacondas , caimans , coatis , jaguars , and other carnivores , though these species are sometimes also caught and killed by

424-418: A more widely accepted maximum size. A large male today may attain 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) in length and can weigh up to 450 kg (1,000 lb), while females are substantially smaller with the largest likely to weigh around 225 kg (496 lb). Sexual dimorphism is not as profound as in other crocodilian species. The coloration is light even in adults. The ecology of the Orinoco crocodile

477-417: A point where they might have become extinct. Around 1970, legislation was put in place and they received some protection. In the period 1977 to 1980, the harvest of wild skins was over 20,000 per year but in the 1980s this declined to 12,000 to 20,000. As well as this, some 2,500 to 10,000 eggs and hatchlings were collected annually to raise on ranches. However, in 1995, the largest ranch on the island initiated

530-475: A population within the Philippine crocodile. Among their two samples for the New Guinea crocodile, one was part of the Philippine crocodile clade and the other was separate, estimated to have diverged 2.6–6.8 million years ago. Both samples were taken from captives (could potentially be misidentified or hybrids ) and the result should therefore be treated with caution. The genus name Crocodylus comes from

583-401: A program launched in 2014 to protect 10 wildlife species of Colombia's Llanos . Thanks to that program, between May 2015 and February 2016, 41 orinoco crocodiles were reintroduced at El Tuparro National Natural Park in eastern Colombia. New Guinea crocodile C. n. novaeguineae The New Guinea crocodile ( Crocodylus novaeguineae ) is a small species of crocodile found on

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636-472: A range of vocalisations. An adult female can produce a repeated throaty "roar" when approached by another adult. The young start communicating with each other while still in the egg; this may help synchronise hatching. Newly hatched juveniles use various yelps and grunts. When startled, a warning sound emitted by one will send all the juveniles diving to the bottom of the water. Adults in the vicinity respond with growls, threats, and attacks. The distress noises of

689-434: A youngster when handled at a ranching facility was observed to cause all the larger animals to become involved in frenzied activity, with some rushing towards the juvenile and others thrashing about in the water and slapping their heads down on the surface. The IUCN listed this crocodile as being " Vulnerable " in its Red List of Threatened Species in 1986 and 1988, but changed the assessment to " Least Concern " in 1996. At

742-1373: Is a cladogram based on a 2018 tip dating study by Lee & Yates simultaneously using morphological , molecular ( DNA sequencing ), and stratigraphic ( fossil age) data, as revised by the 2021 Hekkala et al. paleogenomics study using DNA extracted from the extinct Voay . Note: Crocodylus halli is missing in this diagram, as it was declared a separate species a year after Lee & Yates published their findings. Voay † Crocodylus anthropophagus † Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni † Crocodylus palaeindicus † Crocodylus Tirari Desert † Crocodylus johnstoni Freshwater crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus novaeguineae New Guinea crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis Philippine crocodile Crocodylus porosus Saltwater crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus siamensis Siamese crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus palustris Mugger crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus checchiai † Crocodylus falconensis † Crocodylus suchus West African crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Nile crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus moreletii Morelet's crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer Cuban crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus intermedius Orinoco crocodile Crocodylus acutus American crocodile [REDACTED] The New Guinea crocodile grows to

795-574: Is a critically endangered crocodile . Its population is very small, and they can only be found in the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and Colombia . Extensively hunted for their skins in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is one of the most endangered species of crocodiles. It is a very large species of crocodilian ; males have been reported up to 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) in the past, weighing over 900 kg (2,000 lb), but such sizes do not exist today, 5.2 m (17 ft 1 in) being

848-662: Is narrower than that of the somewhat similar-looking American crocodile . This species generally has a pale tan hide, though at least three coloration variations are known, with some almost completely yellowish, and some a dark brownish-gray. The skin can change colour over long periods of time; this phenomenon has been recorded in other species that can gradually change the amount of melanin in their skin. These crocodiles have dark-brown markings, which present as more pronounced bands in younger specimens and as scattered markings on mature ones. One individual measuring 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) and weighing 182 kg (401 lb) had

901-496: Is obtained for females at around 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) while that of males seems to be obtained around 3 m (9 ft 10 in) length, with most adult crocodiles of the species exceeding 93 kg (205 lb). Average length of wild adult females from 1985 to 1992 was found to be 3.06 m (10 ft 0 in) while that of males is not known to have been surveyed at that time. If not culled by humans, mature males easily exceed 3.6 m (12 ft) and attain

954-499: Is poorly documented in the wild, mostly due to its small population. It is thought to have a more piscivorous diet with an opportunistic nature, resulting in generalist predatory behaviour. It is an apex predator and preys on a variety of birds , mammals and reptiles , including caimans on occasion. Its prey base is mostly large predatory fish , challenging the general view by locals complaining about crocodiles hunting local fish to very low numbers. Reproduction takes place in

1007-529: Is possible that Orinoco crocodiles may reach a lifespan of 70–80 years. The Orinoco crocodile is highly endangered due to excessive hunting for its hide. During the 1940s to the 1960s, thousands of these animals were slaughtered in the Orinoco River and the Llanos wetlands, and the species came very close to extinction . The Orinoco crocodile was given protected status in the 1970s, but has yet to recover. Today, it

1060-454: Is protected both in Colombia and Venezuela, and also included on Appendix I by CITES . In addition to hunting for its hide, more recent threats include the collection of juveniles for sale in the live animal trade, pollution , and the proposal of a dam in the upper Orinoco River region. Another problem is the increased population of spectacled caimans , a smaller crocodilian that can outcompete

1113-569: Is reared in ranches and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists it as being of " Least Concern ". The New Guinea crocodile was first described by the American herpetologist Karl Patterson Schmidt in 1928 as Crocodylus novaeguineae . At one time it was thought that there were two subspecies , C. n. novaeguineae , the New Guinea crocodile native to Papua New Guinea and Western New Guinea , and C. n. mindorensis ,

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1166-668: Is the closest relative of the New Guinea Crocodile. It is also endemic to the island of New Guinea , where it inhabits the lower part of the island, located south of the New Guinea highlands . Crocodylus halli was declared a separate species in 2019, and was named after Philip M. Hall, a researcher at the University of Florida who performed the initial studies to clarify the species' distinctiveness. Both species look very much alike, however they differ both genetically and regarding

1219-455: Is wide, hinting to a generalist diet. Additionally, as they age, mature males in particular appear to manifest a broadened snout, presumably due to a shift to being able to take larger prey as is seen in several other large crocodile species. It stalks both aquatic and terrestrial prey. As a large adult, terrestrial prey may include monkeys , deer , birds , other reptiles , domestic animals , and even occasionally other large predators if

1272-534: The Greek kroko which means a pebble and deilos , a worm or man, referring to the knobbly appearance of the dorsal surface of the reptile. The specific epithet novaeguineae is from the Latin and means "of New Guinea". Other common names for this crocodile include New Guinea freshwater crocodile, Singapore large grain, Puk Puk, Buaya air tawar and Wahne huala. Crocodylus halli , also known as Hall's New Guinea crocodile,

1325-536: The Indonesian provinces of South Papua . It is separated from the New Guinea crocodile by the New Guinea Highlands , a mountain range that runs along the centre of the island. DNA analysis has revealed these to be genetically distinct species, and there are some differences in their morphology and behavior. There are estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000 New Guinea and Hall's New Guinea crocodiles in

1378-467: The Philippine crocodile , native to several islands including Busuanga , Luzon , Masbate , Mindoro , Negros , Samar and Mindanao . Most authorities now consider that the Philippine crocodile is an entirely separate species. DNA sequencing data reported in 2011 showed that the Philippine crocodile is, in part, paraphyletic with regard to the New Guinea crocodile, and that the latter may constitutes

1431-501: The dry season when the water level is low. It is a hole nester and digs holes in the sand for its clutch of eggs . The females guard the nests and young for several years. The genus Crocodylus likely originated in Africa and radiated outwards towards Southeast Asia and the Americas, although an Australia/Asia origin has also been considered. Phylogenetic evidence supports Crocodylus diverging from its closest recent relative,

1484-468: The New Guinea crocodile is mostly freshwater swamps and lakes. It is most active at night when it feeds on fish and a range of other small animals. A female crocodile lays a clutch of eggs in a nest composed of vegetation and she lies up nearby to guard the nest. There is some degree of parental care for newly hatched juveniles. This crocodile was over-hunted for its valuable skin in the mid 20th century, but conservation measures have since been put in place, it

1537-504: The Orinoco crocodile for fish due to its much larger population and much more accelerated breeding rates. It's unclear how many individuals remain in the wild, but estimates range between 250 and 1500. The largest subpopulation in Venezuela is in Cojedes and Sarare , with fewer than 500 adults remaining. A number of other smaller subpopulations exist. In November 2007, 50 individuals were held in zoos registered by Species360 , of which

1590-423: The Orinoco crocodile may rank as the third largest extant true crocodile, after the saltwater crocodile and Nile crocodile (which is closely related to it, despite its substantially different range), and additionally rank 4th amongst all extant crocodilians behind the gharial , though there is little to suggest that Orinoco specimens in modern times can rival these species. Sexual maturity for Orinoco crocodiles

1643-443: The animal matures. The New Guinea crocodile bears a physical similarity to the nearby Philippine crocodile ( C. mindorensis ) and Siamese crocodile ( C. siamensis ). The colouring is similar to that of the freshwater crocodile ( Crocodylus johnsoni ) of northern Australia, but the snout is somewhat shorter and broader. This crocodile is to be found in the freshwater swamps, marshes and lakes of northern New Guinea, particularly in

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1696-478: The bone structure of their skulls . The genus Crocodylus likely originated in Africa and radiated outwards towards Southeast Asia and the Americas, although an Australia/Asia origin has also been considered. Phylogenetic evidence supports Crocodylus diverging from its closest recent relative, the extinct Voay of Madagascar , around 25 million years ago, near the Oligocene / Miocene boundary. Below

1749-453: The day, dispersing at night to feed. Females become sexually mature when about 1.6 to 2 metres (5 ft 3 in to 6 ft 7 in) long and males at about 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in). Eggs are laid about 14 days after mating. In the northern population, breeding takes place during the dry season between August and October. A floating nest composed of vegetation is made in a shallow water location such as in an overgrown channel, at

1802-441: The defending mother crocodile. Adults have no predators except for humans. Females have defended pods of juveniles for over three years, though closer to one year to independence is generally most common. A study of captive Orinoco crocodiles noted the aggressive behavior of adults while nesting and noted that the normally relatively docile crocodilians could not be approached while they were actively brooding. Without persecution, it

1855-404: The edge of a lake, on a scroll swale or beside a stream. A clutch of between 22 and 45 eggs is laid and covered with further vegetation. In the southern population, the wet season is chosen for reproduction. The nest is sometimes built in similar locations to the northern nests, but is more often on land, and a smaller number of rather larger eggs is laid. In both populations, the mother stays near

1908-1382: The extinct Voay of Madagascar , around 25 million years ago, near the Oligocene / Miocene boundary. Below is a cladogram based on a 2018 tip dating study by Lee & Yates simultaneously using morphological , molecular ( DNA sequencing ), and stratigraphic ( fossil age) data, as revised by the 2021 Hekkala et al. paleogenomics study using DNA extracted from the extinct Voay . Voay † Crocodylus anthropophagus † Crocodylus thorbjarnarsoni † Crocodylus palaeindicus † Crocodylus Tirari Desert † Crocodylus johnstoni Freshwater crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus novaeguineae New Guinea crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis Philippine crocodile Crocodylus porosus Saltwater crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus siamensis Siamese crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus palustris Mugger crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus checchiai † Crocodylus falconensis † Crocodylus suchus West African crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Nile crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus moreletii Morelet's crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer Cuban crocodile [REDACTED] Crocodylus intermedius Orinoco crocodile Crocodylus acutus American crocodile [REDACTED] The Orinoco crocodile can be recognised by its relatively long snout, which

1961-433: The females by roaring. The females often outnumber the males two to one and appear to select the males with the deepest roars. In a reintroduced population, only 6 of 14 potential adult males parented over 90% of eggs laid. Usually 14 weeks after mating, the female crocodile will dig a nest and lay about 40 eggs. It is a hole-nester, as are all crocodilians, and it usually makes its nest on a sand bank. The eggs incubate under

2014-417: The food; instead, the crocodile's head is tossed to move the prey to the back of the mouth before the prey is swallowed whole. This crocodile is surprisingly agile and can lunge its body upward into the air to catch bats , flying birds, and leaping fish. It can also probe into the mud at the bottom of a river or swamp with its snout to search for crabs and mollusks. Adult and young New Guinea crocodiles have

2067-495: The interior. It has been known to enter brackish waters but is very rare in coastal areas, and never found in the presence of the competing saltwater crocodile ( C. porosus ). The animal was first described from the area of the Sepik River in the north of Papua New Guinea. The closely related Hall's New Guinea crocodile is found in the southern half of the island, with a range that extends from southeastern Papua New Guinea to

2120-441: The island of New Guinea north of the mountain ridge that runs along the centre of the island. The population found south of the mountain ridge, formerly considered a genetically distinct population, is now considered a distinct species, Hall's New Guinea crocodile ( C. halli ). In the past it included the Philippine crocodile , C. n. mindorensis , as a subspecies , but today they are regarded as separate species. The habitat of

2173-709: The largest population, 35 individuals, were kept in the Dallas World Aquarium . Additionally, a large number of individuals are held at captive-breeding facilities in Venezuela. Since the early 1990s, a large number of hatchlings have been released both into private ranchlands (especially in the Llanos where nature-oriented tourism is important for the local economy) and in national parks in Venezuela. While six Venezuelan captive-breeding programs continue today, many are plagued by lack of funds or staff, as well as conflicts between private and state-owned facilities. The Orinoco crocodile became part of Proyecto Vida Silvestre ,

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2226-434: The majority of the Orinoco crocodile's diet appears to consists of large fish. The species' relatively narrow snout is ideally suited to minimize water resistance in capturing such aquatic prey. However, as an opportunistic apex predator, virtually any animal living within its range could be considered a potential meal, such as invertebrates, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Despite having a rather elongated skull , its base snout

2279-404: The maximum total length attainable for a male as 5.2 m (17 ft 1 in) and the maximum length of a female as 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in). This species is restricted to the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and Colombia . They have been occasionally reported on the island of Trinidad , but this has not been confirmed, and witnesses may have mistaken an American crocodile for

2332-459: The nest during the incubation period, which lasts about 80 days. When the eggs start to hatch, the emerging young are quite vocal, and both male and female crocodiles have been observed transporting hatching and newly hatched young to open water, carrying them delicately in their mouths. Newly hatched New Guinea crocodiles feed on aquatic insects , spiders , tadpoles , freshwater snails , frogs , fish and small mammals . As they grow, so does

2385-404: The opportunity arises. Similar to many of the larger crocodile species, the Orinoco crocodile has also been observed catching and eating smaller species of crocodilians, such as adult common caimans and sometimes cannibalizing smaller individuals of its own kind. Attacks on humans have been reported, but this is highly unlikely to be a common behavior today, given the very small population of

2438-525: The rarer species. This crocodile was once thought to have inhabited a wide range of riparian habitats, from tropical forests to the streams of the Andes foothills. Today, this species is restricted to the Llanos savanna and associated seasonal freshwater rivers. Little study has gone into the dietary biology of Orinoco crocodiles but from eye-witness accounts and partial studies from captivity and crocodile farms,

2491-486: The size of their prey and their consumption of fish rises, but they still will eat anything of a worthwhile size that they can find. An adult's diet is largely fish, caught by sweeping the snout sideways and snapping at the prey, but also includes shrimps , crabs , frogs, snakes , birds and medium-sized mammals. A crocodile catches its prey by stealth with a flick of its head, impaling it with its sharp teeth and gripping and crushing it. The jaws cannot move sideways to chew

2544-432: The species and its relative isolation from large human settlements. Historically attacks were not unusual and on his trip to the region in 1800, natives told Alexander von Humboldt that two or three adult people were killed per year by Orinoco crocodiles. A small number of better documented fatal attacks were reported in the 1900s–1930s when the species was still relatively common. The only well-documented recent attack, on

2597-456: The tail and body which become less noticeable as the animal grows. Longitudinal ridges in front of the eyes and some granular scales on the back of the neck between four large scales are distinctive features of this species. There are some differences between the northerly and southerly populations in the morphology of the skull and the arrangement of the scales. The snout is pointed and relatively narrow during juvenile stages and becomes wider as

2650-587: The time it was stated that the animal has a large area of suitable habitat and seemed to be plentiful. Its status has not been reassessed since then. It is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ). The skin of the New Guinea crocodile is valuable and in the 1950s and 1960s the animals in the northern population were heavily hunted to

2703-403: The wild. New Guinea crocodiles have a mostly aquatic lifestyle and are largely nocturnal. They spend much of the day underwater, often with their nostrils and eyes above the surface. Powerful side-to-side movements of their tails propel them through the water and they use both tail and legs to steer. When on land, they favour shady, dense areas of undergrowth. They tend to bask in a group during

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2756-796: Was only 3 m (9 ft 10 in) and the largest specimen found firsthand was 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in). In captivity, at the Roberto Franco Tropical Biological Station (EBTRF), the largest male was recorded at 4.2 m (13 ft 9 in) and weighed 428 kg (944 lb), and maximum size recorded for females was 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in) long and 195 kg (430 lb) in weight. In Venezuela , males have been reported to reach at least 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in) in length and weigh 380 kg (840 lb), while females reach up to 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) and weigh up to 210 kg (460 lb). The largest specimen historically reported

2809-402: Was shot in 1800, and allegedly measured at 6.78 m (22 ft 3 in), although the source is considered reliable, unfortunately, no voucher specimen is known from this. Because of extensive hunting for their skins in the 20th century, such giants do not exist today, and modern Orinoco crocodiles have not been reported to exceed 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in) in length. Merchán listed

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