American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus

American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, Juvenile. Photograph taken within Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, March 2019. Photograph courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo.

American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus. Photographs taken within Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, March 2019. Photographs  and identifications courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo.

American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus. Photographs taken within the confines of  Parque Nacional Cañón del Sumidero, Chipas, March 2021. Photographs and identification courtesy of Marina Sutormina, Stockholm, Sweden.

American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus. Photograph taken within the confines of Caño Negro Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge in northwestern Costa Rica, February 2023. Photograph and identification courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus. Photograph taken in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, April 2024. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California. Photograph courtesy of Dr. Tom Bartol, Carlsbad, California.

The American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus, is a member of the Crocodylidae family of crocodiles. The Crocodylidae family consists of eighteen members, eight of which are currently considered to be either Critically Endangered or Vulnerable, placed in three genera. There are twelve species in the Crocodylus genus. The American Crocodile is known in Mexico as Cocodrilo Americano.

The American Crocodile is large in stature. They are a uniform grayish-green color with white or yellow undersides. They have a distinguishing, elongated V-shaped or tapered snout with the fourth tooth visible on both sides of the jaw when their mouth is closed. They have strong jaws and an awesome set of teeth; their eyes have nictitating membranes for protection with their nostrils, eyes and ears situated on top. They have four short stocky legs, a long powerful tail and are covered with a scaly hide composed of rows of ossified scutes.

The American Crocodile is found in brackish, fresh, and coastal marine water environments including cays, small islands, brackish lakes, lagoons, and mangrove swamps in tropical areas with distinct rainy seasons. These areas are characterized with access to deeper water, low wave action, and intermediate salinities. They are fast growing and one of the largest crocodile species with the males achieving 6.1 m (20 feet 0 inches) in length and 907 kg (2,000 pounds) in weight. The females are smaller than the males, rarely exceeding 3.8 m (12 feet 6 inches) in length. The American Crocodile is a Top Apex predator with no natural predators. They are lie-in-wait ambush predators that utilize camouflage. They are omnivores that consume everything from insects to any terrestrial animals that they encounter including birds, carrion, crabs, frogs, opossums, racoons, snails, turtles, and even domestic animals such as fully grown cattle, dogs, goats, and pigs. They have land speeds of up to 16 km per hour (10 mph) and swimming speeds of up to 32 km per hour (20 mph). They are ectothermic, relying on basking in the sun to regulate their body temperature. They are susceptible to cold weather and cannot survive in water temperatures below 7.2℃ (45.0℉) as they will drown from hypothermia. 

Male crocodiles began courting females in late January and early February. Courtship is initiated by the male by performing a series of quick and consecutive head slaps. If the female is interested, she will raise her snout and arch her tail. The last act of courtship involves the male and female rubbing snouts and submerging underwater. Gravid females then begin to create nests of sand, mud, and dead vegetation along the water’s edge well above the high-water mark. Interestingly, sex determination is temperature-dependent and slight aberrations in temperature may result in all-male (31℃ or 88℉ to 33℃ or 91℉), all-female (less than 31℃ or 88℉) or death (less than 28℃ or 82℉) clutches so site selection becomes critical to the long-term survival of the species. Each female will lay between 30 and 70 eggs, which are incubated for 75 to 80 days with each parent guarding the nest. The eggs are subject to wide scale predation by cannibalism, coatis, foxes, racoons, and skunks as well as large predatory ants, crabs, and vultures. When hatching begins, the mother digs open the nest and may assist the hatchlings while they emerge from their eggs. Some mothers may also carry their young to water where they are released. The hatchlings are 24 cm (9.4 inches) to 27 cm (10.6 inches) in length. Adult crocodiles will abandon their nesting sites within one or two days after hatching occurs, leaving the hatchlings on their own. The small crocodiles are killed by predation in large quantities. Those that survive and reach maturity have a high survival rate and a long- life span which on average is fifty to seventy years.

The American Crocodile is often and easily confused with the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis (dark in color, broader snout, teeth are not exposed, more aggressive, and more abundant). They are sometimes confused with Morelet’s Crocodile, Crocodylus moreletii (smaller, broad snout, freshwater environments) that is native to the coastal regions of the Atlantic in Mexico.

From a conservation perspective the American Crocodile is currently considered to be THREATENED, however, their populations are increasing due to strong conservation efforts. They are often described as shy and secretive, rarely causing conflict with humans. Historically they were hunted from the 19th, and well into the 20th century, for their leather. In certain areas, they were hunted to near extinction. Human population growth, the development of coastal areas, and the loss of native habitat in certain areas have caused populations levels to be significantly depressed and threaten their long-term survival. They have been increasingly found in public parks, golf courses and marinas creating conflicts between humans and crocodiles. They are currently the focus of major conservation efforts. For example, the creation of a man-made habitat near nesting sites within natural areas have been deemed to be highly beneficial. The American Crocodile can be dangerous to humans, however they are not as aggressive as other alligator and crocodile species and will only attack humans if provoked.  Fatalities are rare. They are considered to be shy and will normally flee when encountered in the wild.