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avatar_Cenozoic Fauna

All 29 currently recognized and described crocodilian species as of 2023

Started by Cenozoic Fauna, September 25, 2023, 01:44:34 AM

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Cenozoic Fauna

Quote from: Bread on September 28, 2023, 12:28:04 PMThank you avatar_Cenozoic Fauna @Cenozoic Fauna!
Yes I do recall multiple species of caiman being present, but I do know for sure based on my recent pamphlet of the Everglades that the Spectacled Caiman is truly the only established caiman species for now. I'll have to share pictures of this with the park's facts.

And regarding the Nile Crocodiles, they were true Nile Crocodiles.

Here is an article discussing about a few instances regarding Nile Crocodiles being captured in the Everglades.
https://www.captainmitchs.com/invasive-species-nile-crocodile-airboat-tour-everglades/#:~:text=Nile%20crocodiles%20have%20been,these%20crocodiles%20were%20Nile%20crocodiles.

Although I do not believe a word of this excerpt:
"For now, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission officials aren't worried, and believe they have captured all the Nile crocodiles in the area – there have been no other confirmed sightings. These officials conduct regular routine inspections and surveys to look out for exotic and invasive species.  The agency also doesn't believe these crocodiles mated with any native crocodiles in their time in the wild, because of dissimilar habitat and behavior."
Makes no sense given the span of time that they found these Nile Crocodiles, and so what's the point in saying these if the time frame is so wide? It could really mean they're could be a very small population either established or not. Plus this article does not even mention the 6 escaped and recaptured Nile Crocodiles either.
I am still trying to find the articles regarding the 6 Nile crocodiles, I recall reading those a while ago I just can't find them.

Just to discuss about the recent cave dwelling crocodilians which I find really interesting, would you happen to know if this is the African Dwarf Crocodile? This article in particular: https://www.abanda-expedition.org/orange-cave-dwelling-crocodile-012.html
That's Awesome! Sounds good, also wonder what other introduce species of crocodilians could be lurking around yet to be found in Florida? Also thanks for the article, very intriguing, also very true and good point.

Seems  possible that there actually might be a very small established population of Nile crocodile, it is Certainly raises the eyesbrows given there comments about the Nile crocs in Florida and the lack of mentioning the captured 6 Nile crocs. Also nice, would be cool to read about those 6 captured Nile crocodiles, also wonder what locality of Africa these Nile crocodile are originally from?

Also those cave crocodiles of Africa are super cool and fascinating! Also yes indeed, those are African dwarf crocodiles, namely  Osteolaemus tetraspis. The cave is located in Gabon and the species that are found in the cave have a distinct genetic signature from the other dwarf crocodile found in the rainforest in Gabon, and based on the genetic data collected could be evolving into a distinct species, or are in the process, and are an evolutionary distinct unit, a unique genetic population. Also interesting there skin has turned orange due to the high amount of acidic bat guano. Wild! Also they are usually more well fed in most regards than the Forest population of dwarf crocodiles, and feed only on the bats, other cave species, and crickets, and we're even eating some algae as well.

Also there is still a lot of mystery revolving around these cave dwelling dwarf crocodiles which are the most distinctive and adaptable cave dwelling crocodiles, and it's still unclear if they are able to reproduce in the cave which is really fascinating. Also they have said that some of the smaller crocs make it to the surface and reproduce outside of the cave, though it's still uncertain if the adult can do so. Also Here's another article about the orange dwarf cave crocs  https://phys.org/news/2018-01-strange-orange-cave-african-dwarf.amp

Also I know that they have cave dwelling Nile crocodiles in Madagascar here are two articles about these unique Nile cave crocs of Madagascar
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/wbna3080753   

https://o.canada.com/travel/great-big-nature-takes-you-into-the-crocodile-caves-of-ankarana-madagascar/wcm/cb880387-5023-437f-838b-a65a879d29ba/amp/

still a lot is unknown about these cave
dwelling Nile crocs as well. Also Do you know if there has been any recent study in these cave dwelling Nile crocs?

also there are even cave dwelling morelets, American crocodile hybrids living in Belize. Though it's possible not all are hybrids and other are, or they could all be hybrid crocs.  Here's the paper https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2470&context=ijs

Though the cave dwelling dwarf crocodile of Gabon live in the most extreme cave conditions compared to the other known species from what I've gathered so far, and are even genetically distinct, though it's still unknown if the cave dwelling Nile crocs of Madagascar are genetically distinct from the Madagascar Nile crocodile population, its certainly very possible they could be! And same for the Belize population of Morelets/American croc hybrids in the cave systems in Belize.