Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Reptilia |
Order | Crocodilia |
Family | Crocodylidae |
Genus | Crocodylus |
Subfamily | Crocodylinae |
Scientific Name | Crocodylus acutus |

American Crocodile Description
- The American crocodile has a V-shaped snout.
- The crocodile generally moves on its belly but it can also high walk.
- The largest population is in Costa Rica.
- American crocodiles are extremely vulnerable to cold temperatures.
Size & Weight
Male:
- TOTAL-LENGTH: 2.9 to 4 m (9 ft 6 in to 13 ft 1 in)
- WEIGHT: 382 kg (842 lb)
Female:
- TOTAL-LENGTH: 2.5 to 3 m (8 ft 2 in to 9 ft 10 in)
- WEIGHT: 173 kg (381 lb)
Hatchlings:
- LENGTH: 27 cm (10.6 in)
- WEIGHT: 60 g (2.1 oz)
Large Specimen:
- TOTAL LENGTH: 5 to 5.5 m (16 ft 5 in to 18 ft 1 in)
- WEIGHT: 1000 kg (2,200 lb)
Habitat
Mangrove swamps, fresh water, salt lake, river mouths
Range
Southern Florida, southern Mexico, Caribbean islands, Greater Antilles, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Diet
Birds, mammals, snails, turtles, crabs, carrion, frogs, fiddler crabs, mullet, opossums, heron, flamingos, grebes, moorhens, pelicans, coots, storks
Reproduction
30 – 70 eggs
Eggs Size
- LENGTH: 8 cm (3.1 in)
- WIDTH: 5 cm (2.0 in)
Incubation Period
75 – 80 days
Hatching Period
July to August
Mating Period
January to February
Gestation Period
2 – 3 months
Sexual Maturity
8 – 10 years
Population
1,000 – 2,000
Lifespan
45 years
Swimming Speed
20 mph (32 km/h)
Conservation Status
Vulnerable