Chinese alligator
Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis)
The Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis) is a species of crocodiles and provides not only the spread in North America Mississippi alligator is the only species of the genus Real alligators ( Alligatorinae ) dar.
Description
Alligator sinensis can reach a maximum length of 220 cm, but usually only 150 to 180 cm. The males are much bigger and longer than the females. The tank is colored predominantly yellowish gray and has dark bandings on the back and tail on. The limbs are rather short and strong, the feet have five claws. Underwater, the strong tail is used as a rudder.
Dissemination
The Chinese alligator lives at the mouth of the Yangtze River running and its tributaries in the Chinese Pacific coast of Anhui and parts of neighboring Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces endemic. The historic range encompassed other areas of China and handed to Korea, in the years 1978-1998, however, it took more than 90 percent in its extension from.
Way of life
The Chinese alligator lives in still waters such as marshes, ponds and lakes, and in slow-flowing rivers. He keeps it on almost exclusively in the water. Like most crocodiles he is a dietary generalist and hunts mostly fish, waterfowl, small mammals and crustaceans, young animals also eat insects and snails.
System
The Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis) is a species of crocodiles and provides not only the spread in North America Mississippi alligator is the only kind of genuine alligator ( Alligatorinae ) dar.
Crocodile ( Crocodylidae )
Caimans ( Caimaninae )
American Alligator ( Alligator mississipiensis )
Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis)
Gavials ( Gavialidae )
Threats and conservation
The Chinese alligator is in its existence endangered and threatened with extinction, as it was for many years hunted intensively for its leather, of his flesh, and as a souvenir and is illegal partly still hunted. He is also threatened due to the destruction of potential habitats. It is classified in the Red List of the IUCN as endangered since 1982 and currently as critically endangered. In addition, he is in Appendix I of CITES lists and is therefore excluded from the trade. Worldwide live for another 120 copies in the wild. In China, trying to breed offspring in "Breeding Center". In December 2008, holding 40 world scientifically conducted zoological gardens 111 China Gators, including seven zoos in Europe twelve copies. There is a European Endangered Species Programme (EEP ) of the European Zooverbands EAZA. Coordinator Henrik Herold, Tropical Zoo Randers Rainforest, Denmark.