Large Sanke kills and consumes Crocodle

I thought this video was interesting and thought I should share. This video shows a large Scrub python killing and eating a Fresh water crocodile.

Source:
http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/amazing-photographs-video-snake-devouring-crocodile

First Alligator attack in 8 years which causes a human death

(source: Anthony Baker)

On July 4th it was reported that a man in Orange county, Texas a man and a women where swimming in a bayou and they where attacked by a large American Alligator.

They where swimming in the bayou despite warning signs confirming the presence of alligators in the area and according those in the area the an shouted "F-ck the Alligators" in reply to a warning of the large animals.

The next thing witness recount is of the man being grabbed by a large alligator.

On July 6th a large Alligator was found in Orange county dead after it had been illegally killed. It was confirmed to be the same animals which killed the Orange county man 2 days before.

The animal was 11.2 feet and was large enough to kill an adult man.

Sources:
http://wfla.com/2015/07/04/23002/
http://www.12newsnow.com/story/29484672/large-alligator-killed-in-same-area-where-gator-killed-a-man-last-week
http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/f6b0a67f701571b4bb9ed1140832a835.htm
Video at this link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/f6b0a67f701571b4bb9ed1140832a835.htm

Alligator attacks and eats a dog in Florida

(Credit: Wikimedia)

A 8 foot American Alligator killed and consumed a dog in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. Although the owner attempted to save the dog the alligator got away with the family pet.

Although this is very sad to hear it seems wildlife officers are taking the proper prepstive on this with one officer saying "I can't punish an alligator for being an alligator...That's just an alligator being its normal self." and saying "People just need to understand that we are a national wildlife refuge, and first and foremost, we are there for the wildlife."

The officers do hand out a flyer called "A guide to living with Alligators" (linked below) This includes safety tips when dealing with alligators

Sources
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/07/01/dog-eaten-alligator-st-marks-refuge/29554797/

A guide to living with Alligators:
http://welcometonorthwestflorida.com/pdf/faimlysupport1.pdf

First Alligator attack on a human this year

The first alligator attack on a human happen late last month in Texas. A 13 year old boy was bitten on the arm and leg by a alligator in the 6 foot to 8 foot range. Luckily his father was present and was able to help fight the animal off, but was also injured during the attack.

Sources
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/father-grandfather-save-boy-in-texas-alligator-attack/
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2015/0629/Dad-of-the-year-Father-saves-13-year-old-son-from-alligator-video

New post coming

Sorry about the two month lay off, but post will be coming in the coming days and weeks!

Until then here is a video of a tortoise attacking a cat!

There are 23 species of Crocodillians! Wait there is another?

Credit: http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/14/nile-crocodile-is-actually-two-species-and-the-egyptians-knew-it/

I grow up loving crocodilians. Growing up I learned there where 23 species of Crocodilians. That's why this discovery is so exciting to me. In 2011 it was announced that the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) was in fact two different species. They are the Nile Crocodile as we traditionally think of them. The Nile Crocodile is often assumed to be the second largest crocodile species of the planet growing up to 18 feet and perhaps weighting nearly 1 ton.

However this study discovered a population of crocodile living in west Africa. The researchers named this species the West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus). Its believed that this West African Crocodile to quite different from the Nile crocodile, who the study says shares a lot of his genetic information with new world crocodiles rather than this fellow African Crocodile.

Sources
http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Crocodylus&species=suchus
http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110914/full/news.2011.535.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/06/0617_020618_croc.html
http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2011/09/14/nile-crocodile-is-actually-two-species-and-the-egyptians-knew-it/

Fun Tortoise video



 

I saw this video on the Smithsonian channel on Facebook and had to share it.

 

Source

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWYCoBiTnA0

10,000 Reptiles!

Credit: http://phys.org/news/2014-08-reptile-database-surpasses-species.html

2014 was a  big year for those keep up with reptiles as the 10,000th reptile was described for the first time a small lizard named Cyrtodactylus Vilaphogi. This lizard was found in the nation of Laos. Now with over 10,000 species this means that reptiles out number mammals who only have about 7,000 species.

Break down of the order Reptilia
Crocodilians: 24 Species
Lizards: over 6,000 Species
Snakes: over 3,400 species
Turtles: over 300 species
Worm Lizards: over 180 species
Tuatara: 2 species

Source
http://phys.org/news/2014-08-reptile-database-surpasses-species.html

Crocs enjoy the occasional salad

Credit: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130821124333.htm

In a study looking at the dietary habits of 18 species of Crocodilians, it was found that 13 species of crocodilians d consume fruits on a regular basis. Although there isn't lot of data on how crocodilians process carbohydrates to get nutritional value out of the meal, they study assumes that the do or they wound not consume the fruit.

This study shows us how amazingly adaptive crocodilians are to their environment!

Source
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130821124333.htm

Gomek

Credit: Wikimedia

As a follow up to my last post on Maximo, I wanted to post some info on Gomek. Gomek was the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) kept at St Augustine Alligator Farm before they got Maximo.

At nearly 18 feet long and one ton in weight Gomek was one of the largest crocodiles to ever be exhibited in a zoo in the world, let alone America. Gomek was a saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) caught by George Craig. Mr. Craig is the same man who caught Cassius.

Gomek lived at St Augustine Alligator Farm until 1997 when de died of a heart attack at the age of 60 to 80 years old. After his death he was stuffed and placed on display for the world to see!!

Next time your in the area go see what remains of this amazing animal.

Wikipedia article on Gomek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gomek

St Augustine Alligator Farm website
http://www.alligatorfarm.com/
http://www.alligatorfarm.com/gomekforever.html