Editing Crocodile (section)

==Species==
[[File:Crocodylidae Distribution.png|thumb|left|upright=3|Distribution of crocodiles]]{{Clear}}
A total of 18 [[extant taxon|extant]] species have been recognized. Further [[genetic study]] is needed for the confirmation of proposed species under the genus ''[[Osteolaemus]]''.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Species name!! Image !! Distribution!! Description/Comments
|-
| valign="top" | [[American crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus acutus''}})
|[[File:Crocodylus acutus mexico 02-edit1.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | Throughout the [[Caribbean Basin]], including many of the [[Caribbean island]]s and [[South Florida]].
| valign="top" | A larger sized species, with a greyish colour and a prominent V-shaped snout. Prefers [[brackish]] water, but also inhabits lower stretches of [[river]]s and true [[marine biology|marine]] environments. This is one of the rare species that exhibits regular sea-going behaviour, which explains the great distribution throughout the [[Caribbean]]. It is also found in [[hypersaline lake]]s such as [[Lago Enriquillo]], in the [[Dominican Republic]], which has one of the largest populations of this species.<ref name="nationalgeographic1">{{cite web|url=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/american-crocodile/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117092839/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/american-crocodile |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 January 2010 |title=American Crocodiles, American Crocodile Pictures, American Crocodile Facts – National Geographic |publisher=Animals.nationalgeographic.com |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=25 April 2013}}</ref> Diet consists mostly of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates. Classified as [[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]], but certain local populations under greater threat.
|-
|[[Crocodylus halli|Hall's New Guinea crocodile]] (''Crocodylus halli'')
|
|The island of [[New Guinea]], south of the [[New Guinea Highlands]]
|A smaller species that closely resembles and was long classified under the [[New Guinea crocodile]], which it is now considered to be genetically distinct from. It lives south of the mountain barrier that divides the two species' ranges. It can be physically distinguished from the New Guinea crocodile by its shorter [[maxilla]] and enlarged [[postcrania]]l elements. Cranial elements can still widely vary within the species, with populations from [[Lake Murray (Papua New Guinea)|Lake Murray]] having much wider heads than those from the [[Aramia River (New Guinea)|Aramia River]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Murray|first1=Christopher M.|last2=Russo|first2=Peter|last3=Zorrilla|first3=Alexander|last4=McMahan|first4=Caleb D.|date=September 2019|title=Divergent Morphology among Populations of the New Guinea Crocodile, Crocodylus novaeguineae (Schmidt, 1928): Diagnosis of an Independent Lineage and Description of a New Species|journal=Copeia|volume=107|issue=3|pages=517–523|doi=10.1643/CG-19-240|issn=0045-8511|doi-access=free}}</ref>
|-
| valign="top" | [[Orinoco crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus intermedius''}})
|[[File:Croc inter.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]]
| valign="top" | This is a large species with a relatively elongated snout and a pale tan coloration with scattered dark brown markings. Lives primarily in the [[Orinoco|Orinoco Basin]]. Despite having a rather narrow snout, preys on a wide variety of vertebrates, including large mammals. It is a [[Critically Endangered]] species.
|-
| valign="top" | [[Freshwater crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus johnstoni''}})
|[[File:Australia Cairns 18.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Northern Australia]]
| valign="top" | A smaller species with a narrow and elongated snout. It has light brown coloration with darker bands on body and tail. Lives in [[river]]s with considerable distance from the sea, to avoid confrontations with saltwater crocodiles. Feeds mostly on [[fish]] and other small vertebrates.
|-
| valign="top" | [[Philippine crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus mindorensis''}})
|[[File:Crocodylus mindorensis basking on a rock in the Disulap River, Barangay Disulap - ZooKeys-266-001-g102.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Endemic]] to the [[Philippines]]
| valign="top" | This is a relatively small species with a rather broader snout. It has heavy dorsal armour and a golden-brown colour that darkens as the animal matures. Prefers [[freshwater]] habitats and feeds on a variety of small to medium sized vertebrates. This species is [[Critically Endangered]] and the most severely threatened species of crocodile.<ref>(2011-09-06). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110923180815/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/pictures/110906-giant-crocodile-philippines-biggest-ever-caught-captured#/giant-saltwater-crocodile-found-philippines-enclosure_39953_600x450.jpg "Pictures: Biggest Crocodile Ever Caught?"]. National Geographic Daily News.</ref>
|-
| valign="top" | [[Morelet's crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus moreletii''}})
| [[File:Morelets.crocodile.arp.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | Atlantic regions of [[Mexico]], [[Belize]] and [[Guatemala]]
| valign="top" | A small to medium sized crocodile with a rather broad snout. It has a dark greyish-brown colour and is found in mostly various [[freshwater]] habitats. Feeds on mammals, birds and reptiles. It is listed as [[Least Concern]].
|-
| valign="top" | [[Nile crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus niloticus''}})
| [[File:Nile croc couple 690V1510 - Flickr - Lip Kee.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Sub-saharan Africa]]
| valign="top" | A large and aggressive species with a broad snout, especially in older animals. It has a dark bronze coloration and darkens as the animal matures. Lives in a variety of freshwater habitats but is also found in brackish water. It is an [[apex predator]] that is capable of taking a wide array of [[Africa]]n vertebrates, including large ungulates and other predators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/csp_cnil.htm |title=IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group |publisher=Crocodilian.com |access-date=25 April 2013 |archive-date=25 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025183255/http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/csp_cnil.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> This species is listed as [[Least Concern]].
|-
|-
| valign="top" | [[New Guinea crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus novaeguineae'')}}
| [[File:Neuguinea-krokodil-0272.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | The island of [[New Guinea]], north of the [[New Guinea Highlands]]
| valign="top" | A smaller species of crocodile with a grey-brown colour and dark brown to black markings on the tail. The young have a narrower V-shaped snout that becomes wider as the animal matures. Prefers [[freshwater]] habitats, even though is tolerant to salt water, in order to avoid competition and predation by the saltwater crocodile. This species feeds on small to mid-sized vertebrates.
|-
| valign="top" | [[Mugger crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus palustris''}})
|[[File:Mugger crocodile Crocodylus palustris (2155269175).jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | The [[Indian subcontinent]] and surrounding countries
| valign="top" | This is a modest sized crocodile with a very broad snout and an alligator-like appearance. It has dark-grey to brown coloration. Enlarged scutes around the neck make it a heavily armoured species. Prefers slow moving [[river]]s, [[swamp]]s and [[lake]]s. It can also be found in [[coastal]] swamps but avoids areas populated by saltwater crocodiles.<ref>[http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/cst_cpal_dh_map.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123063953/http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/cst_cpal_dh_map.htm|date=23 January 2013}}. Crocodile Species List. Retrieved on 13 April 2013.</ref> Feeds on a wide array of vertebrates.
|-
| valign="top" | [[Saltwater crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus porosus''}})
|[[File:Crocodylus porosus 4.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | Throughout {{nowrap|[[Southeast Asia]]}}, [[Northern Australia]] and surrounding waters
| valign="top" | The largest living reptile and most aggressive of all crocodiles. It is a big-headed species and has a relatively broad snout, especially when older. The coloration is pale yellow with black stripes when young but dark greenish-drab coloured as adults. Lives in [[brackish]] and [[marine biology|marine]] environments as well as lower stretches of [[river]]s. This species has the greatest distribution of all crocodiles. Tagged specimens showed long-distance marine travelling behaviour. It is the [[apex predator]] throughout its range and preys on virtually any animal within its reach. It is classified as [[Least Concern]] but with several populations under greater risk.<ref name=IUCN>{{Cite iucn | author = Crocodile Specialist Group | title = ''Crocodylus porosus'' | volume = 1996 | page = e.T5668A11503588 | date = 1996 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T5668A11503588.en }}</ref>
|-
|[[Crocodylus raninus|Borneo crocodile]] (''Crocodylus raninus'')
|
|Island of Borneo in [[Southeast Asia]]
|A freshwater species of crocodile that has been considered a synonym of the [[saltwater crocodile]].
|-
| valign="top" | [[Cuban crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus rhombifer''}})
|[[File:Cuban Crocodile.JPG|140 px]]
| valign="top" | Found only in the [[Zapata Swamp]] and [[Isle of Youth]] of [[Cuba]]
| valign="top" | It is a small but extremely aggressive species of crocodile that prefers [[freshwater]] [[swamps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.markoshea.info/reptileworld_zone2-4.php|title=Mark O'Shea – The Official Website}}</ref> The coloration is vibrant even as adults and the scales have a "pebbled" appearance. It is a relatively terrestrial species with agile locomotion on land, and sometimes displays terrestrial hunting. The snout is broad with a thick upper-jaw and large teeth. The unique characteristics and fossil record indicates a rather specialized [[diet (nutrition)|diet]] in the past, preying on megafauna such as the giant sloth. This species sometimes displays pack-hunting behaviour, which might have been the key to hunting large species in the past, despite its small size.<ref name = "Alexander">{{Cite journal| last = Alexander | first = Marc | title = Last of the Cuban crocodile? | journal = Americas (English Edition)| date = 1 January 2006| url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/PrintArticle.aspx?id=141091822| issn = 0379-0940 | access-date = 9 July 2010}}</ref> Today most prey are small to medium sized vertebrates. It is [[Critically Endangered]], and the remaining wild population is under threat of hybridization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110624-cuban-american-crocodile-animals-hybrids-science/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110626155943/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110624-cuban-american-crocodile-animals-hybrids-science/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2011|title=Hybrid Cuban-American Crocodiles on the Rise|date=26 June 2011}}</ref>
|-
| valign="top" | [[Siamese crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus siamensis''}})
|[[File:Crocodylus siamensis (head, mouth open, in zoo).jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Indonesia]], [[Brunei]], [[East Malaysia]] and southern [[Indochina]]
| valign="top" | A fairly small crocodile that prefers [[freshwater]] habitats. It has a relatively broad snout and olive-green to dark green coloration. It feeds on a variety of small to mid-sized vertebrates. Listed as [[Critically Endangered]], but might be already extinct in the wild; status is unknown.<ref name=Bezuijen>{{cite journal |last1=Simpson |first1=Boyd K. |last2=Bezuijen |first2=Mark R. |title=Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus Siamensis |journal=Crocodiles |year=2010 |edition=Third |url=http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/20_C-637b6a34.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.iucncsg.org/365_docs/attachments/protarea/20_C-637b6a34.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2018 }}</ref>
|-
| valign="top" | [[West African crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Crocodylus suchus''}})
|[[File:Crocodile - Copenhagen Zoo.jpg|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Western Africa|Western]] and [[Central Africa]]
| valign="top" | Recent studies revealed that this is distinct species from the larger Nile crocodile.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110914/full/news.2011.535.html Nile crocodile is two species], Nature.com</ref><ref name = "schmitz">{{cite journal|author1=Schmitz, A. |author2=Mausfeld, P. |author3=Hekkala, E. |author4=Shine, T. |author5=Nickel, H. |author6=Amato, G. |author7= Böhme, W. |name-list-style=amp |year=2003|title=Molecular evidence for species level divergence in African Nile crocodiles ''Crocodylus niloticus'' (Laurenti, 1786)|journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol|volume=2|issue=8 |pages=703–12|doi=10.1016/j.crpv.2003.07.002|bibcode=2003CRPal...2..703S }}</ref> It has a slightly narrower snout and is much smaller compared to its larger cousin.
|-
| valign="top" | [[Osborn's dwarf crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Osteolaemus osborni''}})
|[[File:Osteolaemus osborni 88103967.jpg|140px]]
| valign="top" | [[Western Africa]]
| valign="top" | It is a heavily armoured species with uniform black coloration in adults, while juveniles have a lighter brown banding. Lives in the tropical forests of Western Africa. Feeds on small vertebrates and large aquatic invertebrates. It is a fairly terrestrial species and exhibits terrestrial hunting, especially at night. 
|-
| valign="top" | [[Dwarf crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Osteolaemus tetraspis''}})
|[[File:Dwarf crocodile 01.JPG|140 px]]
| valign="top" | [[Western Africa]]
| valign="top" |  It belongs to its own [[monotypic]] [[genus]]; however, new studies indicate there might be two or even three distinct species.<ref name="Eaton">{{cite journal|last=Eaton|first=Mitchell J.|author2=Andrew Martin |author3=John Thorbjarnarson |author4=George Amato |title=Species-level diversification of African dwarf crocodiles (Genus Osteolaemus): A geographic and phylogenetic perspective|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|date=March 2009|volume=50|issue=3|pages=496–506|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2008.11.009 |pmid=19056500|bibcode=2009MolPE..50..496E }}</ref> It is a heavily armoured species with uniform black coloration in adults, while juveniles have a lighter brown banding. Lives in the tropical forests of Western Africa. Feeds on small vertebrates and large aquatic invertebrates. It is a fairly terrestrial species and exhibits terrestrial hunting, especially at night. This species is classified as [[Vulnerable species|Vulnerable]].
|-
|[[West African slender-snouted crocodile]] ({{nowrap|''Mecistops cataphractus''}})
|[[File:Crocodylus cataphractus faux-gavial d'Afrique2.JPG|frameless|140x140px]]
|[[Western Africa]]
|A medium sized species with a narrow and elongated snout. Lives in [[freshwater]] habitats within tropical forests of the continent. Feeds mostly on [[fish]] but also other small to medium sized vertebrates. It is a [[Critically endangered|Critically Endangered]] species.
|-
|[[Central African slender-snouted crocodile]] (''Mecistops leptorhynchus'')
|[[File:Crocodylus cataphractus 2009.jpg|frameless|142x142px]]
|[[Central Africa]]
|A medium sized species found in watery areas in dense rainforest. Feeds largely on fish. Insufficient conservation data, but was classified as [[Critically endangered|Critically Endangered]] when lumped with ''M. cataphractus'', although ''M. leptorhynchus'' is doing better in its home range.
|}

{{For|information on Tomistoma or false gharial, that is recently not considered as a true crocodile|False gharial}}