Orinoco crocodile

Orinoco crocodile ( Crocodylus intermedius )

The Orinoco crocodile ( Crocodylus intermedius ) is a kind of genuine crocodile ( Crocodylidae ).

Features

The Orinoco crocodile is one of the large crocodile species and can probably reach a body length of six meters or more. It is light to olive brown colored and has a slightly darker drawing of transverse bands on the tail. From the American crocodile ( Crocodylus acutus ), which occurs in some areas sympatric with it, it differs mainly by the more pointed and narrow snout, and the symmetrically arranged scales on the carapace.

Dissemination

The habitat of the Orinoco crocodile is probably mainly in the area of the larger rivers in the freshwater area of ​​the Orinoco in Colombia and Venezuela. Further details are complicated by the strong likelihood of confusion with the American crocodile, which mainly occurs in the mouth of the river.

Way of life

The Orinoco crocodile eats probably mainly of fish that can grab it with the narrow snout and very well maintained. In addition, however, it also catches amphibians, other reptiles, birds and mammals. Trusted reports that these crocodiles have attacked humans, there is not, however, reported early travelers it.

The breeding behavior of the animals is largely unknown, like all other American crocodiles it is a Grubennister.