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

Maximo!



Photo taken by Anthony Baker at St Augustine Alligator Farm

As a person who loves crocodilians St Augustine Alligator Farm is one of my favorite places on earth! If you are ever in the area St Augustine Alligator Farm is an amazing zoo where you can see all 24 species of crocodilians.

However their saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), Maximo, is a great animal. At 15' 3" long and weighting over 1,200 pounds he is a very impressive sight to behold! Below are a series of links both to videos online of Maximo and links to St Augustine Alligator Farm website.

Videos of Maximo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKrZLbHhQz4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S57vYKhV40A

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

Seized pet American Alligater

(Credit: Photo taken by Anthony Baker at St. Augustine Alligator Farm)

A pet American Alligator was seized 6 months ago from a home in California, when the owner failed to have the proper permit for the animal. The family owned the animal for 30 years wen it was seized. A couple of days ago the pet Alligator, named Chopper, died in state custody.

 

 

I a have few mixed feelings about captive crocodilians, but it seems this family took great care of this animal for decides. In any event no matter what side you come down on the debate it is a sad outcome for the animal.  



Source:

http://abc7.com/pets/alligator-dies-after-being-taken-from-rancho-cucamonga-owner-by-fish-and-wildlife/557337/

Update: Galapagos Tortoises on Pinzón Island!

(Credit: Wikimedia)

On 1/27/2015 I posted an article about the return of baby Galapagos Tortoises on the Pinzón Island. In another article I found (which I have linked to in the sources section) they was a population survey done on the Pinzón Island which shows great growth in the population. In 1959,they estimated there where 100 to 200 adult Tortoises. Today there is an estimated over 500 Tortoises on the Pinzón Island. This is a great considering these animals take 40 years to reach sexual maturity, however not all of these tortoises were born on the island, but where released.

Sources:
http://www.galapagos.org/blog/pinzon-tortoise-survey-part1/
http://www.galapagos.org/blog/pinzon-tortoise-survey-part2/

Playing Crocs!!!

Credit: Vladimir Dinets

Based on an article titled "Play behavior in crocodilians" published in Animal Behavior and Cognition by Vladimir Dinets crocodiles have been shown to display play behavior.

The article suggest that crocodilians exhibit three different types of play behavior: play with objects, social play and locomotor play. This comes as a surprise to me as I have heard other accounts by croc experts who believed that crocodiles do not play. This study suggest that crocodiles can play with one another and even play with objects such as balls.

Although this study suggests crocodiles do exhibit play behavior the author does mention

"Even though these observations of apparent play behavior are mostly singular and, if taken separately, allow for alternative explanations (some of which are mentioned in Results section), combined they present strong evidence that play might be a more regular part of crocodilian behavioral repertoire than currently recognized."

So it seems more studies and observations will have to be performed before the argument is closed.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150210212044.htm

Crocodiles eat poachers!

(Credit: Wikimedia)

 

Tourist in Zimbabwe came upon a pretty nasty site when they where touring the Zambezi river as the found a group of crocodiles consuming a human body.

 

The person is believed to be from Zambia and to have died during gun fight with other poachers and not the crocodiles. However the crocodiles most likely took the opportunity to eat when they found the body.

 

Sources

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/british-tourists-crocodiles-eating-human-legs-report-article-1.2154532