American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), Everglades, Florida
... not to be confused with the American alligator. The American crocodile has a narrower, more v-shaped snout than the alligator and is much rarer. The largest individuals grow to 6m long, can weigh over 900kg and are capable of taking down cattle. (I am amazed at my own folly at approaching this one; I remember being told that the species is not very manoeuvrable and that, if you stand to one side of it you are in less danger than if you stand in front of it! Ahem.) Whilst they occasionally frequent fresh water and river systems, these are basically saltwater crocodiles, to be found in brackish swamps and on beaches and remote cays. This is a tropical species, found round the Caribbean and northern South America, the distribution reaching the USA only in southern Florida.
130328 468
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer who may be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), Everglades, Florida
... not to be confused with the American alligator. The American crocodile has a narrower, more v-shaped snout than the alligator and is much rarer. The largest individuals grow to 6m long, can weigh over 900kg and are capable of taking down cattle. (I am amazed at my own folly at approaching this one; I remember being told that the species is not very manoeuvrable and that, if you stand to one side of it you are in less danger than if you stand in front of it! Ahem.) Whilst they occasionally frequent fresh water and river systems, these are basically saltwater crocodiles, to be found in brackish swamps and on beaches and remote cays. This is a tropical species, found round the Caribbean and northern South America, the distribution reaching the USA only in southern Florida.
130328 468
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All images are the property of the photographer and may not be reproduced, copied, downloaded, transmitted or used in any way without the written permission of the photographer who may be contacted by registering with flickr and using flickrmail
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------