1. American Crocodile (crocodylus acutus)
By: Drew Everson

2. General Knowledge Sizes: Females
range from feet in length around lbs
Males
range from feet in length and 880-1,100 lbs
Coloration:
Adults are a grayish green with white or yellow stomachs
Young have a bright stripe down their back and tail

3. Species Location(s) Southern Florida Bahamas
Dominican Republic and Haiti
Northern South America
Throughout Central America

4. Population Growth Status
The population is steadily growing
Reasons why:
Conservation efforts
Banned commercial hunting
Although it is no longer considered endangered and has been downgraded to “threatened”, the species is still conserved with the Endangered Species Act

5. Terminology Male: Bull Female: Cow Newborn: Hatchling
Group: Float/bask

6. Life Cycle
Begins hunting almost immediately after the mother stops watching over them constantly
Rarely lives through childhood
If they live they will grow rapidly
Will age to around a maximum of 90 years old

7. Habitat American crocodiles need a constantly tropical temperature to
live.
Can survive and thrive in saltwater because of their high level of salinity tolerance
Although they usually live in freshwater or brackish rivers, lakes, streams, or ponds

8. Family/Related Animals
Alligator
Caiman
Gharial
These are three animals related to the crocodile in general

9. Mating Relationships Crocodiles have temporary mating partners
Usually change every mating season

10. Reproduction Crocodiles lay eggs and do not have live birth
They have a 2-3 month gestation period
They lay their eggs in late fall or early winter
The age of reproduction is unknown although for females it is thought to possibly be 10-13

11. Diet and Digestive System
Fish
Land mammals
Smaller reptiles
Birds
They have no real predators, therefore anything they come across is considered prey for the American Crocodile.
The digestive tract of crocodiles is fairly short because meat is a simple food.

12. Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_crocodile

13. The End