Cuban crocodile

Cuba crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer )

The Cuba or diamond crocodile ( Crocodylus rhombifer ) is a representative of the family of genuine crocodile, who lives on the Caribbean island of Cuba as endemic. It is considered one of the most aggressive types at all.

Features

The Cuban crocodile can reach a maximum body length of about 3.50 meters, but it should also be up to five meters long, according to reports from the 19th century. The snout of this type has both in the area of the nostrils and at the eyes on a curvature that make this seem very short. Behind the eyes of the animals have characteristic projections, which are reminiscent of the horns. The coloring of the pups is a rich golden brown with a black drawing of spots and transverse bands, the adult animals are dark gray to black and have golden-yellow spots.

Dissemination

As the range of the endemic Cuban crocodile is restricted to the island of Cuba. Here you can find them only in the area of the swamps of Zapata Peninsula and on the Isla de la Juventud. Until the 19th century they were more widespread and they could also south of the capital Havana and meet in the area of Pinar del Río. In addition, fossils have been found on Grand Cayman.

Way of life

Very little is known about the biology of the Cuban crocodiles. As pointed crocodiles ( Crocodylus acutus ) also place it on pit nests. They feed on fish, turtles and small mammals. The Cuban crocodile is often in high gear as other crocodiles, and also has stronger legs. Fossils of Cuban giant sloths also show bite marks from Cuba crocodiles. This indicates that this crocodile was capable by his strong legs and previous size to hunt larger prey on land.