Crocodylus intermedius

(Graves, 1819)

Vernacular names
English : Orinoco crocodile
French : Crocodile de l’Orénoque

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Crocodylia
Family : Crocodylidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species can reach up to 5 meters in length, maybe more but today, this is unlikely. Armored body, long and narrow snout. Coloration variable, ranging from light beige to green-brown with dark spots, to uniform dark grey.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in South America, from eastern Colombia to central and western Venezuela. Found mostly in rivers in the Llanos savannas, often in flooded savannas.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species is highly endangered and continuously declining because of over trapping, killing and habitat destruction.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America

Observation

 

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