Animal Library

				Back to Library

THE MORELET’S CROCODILE

COMMON NAMES:
Morelet's crocodile, Cocodrilo de Morelet, Crocodile de Morelet, Central American crocodile, Mexican crocodile, Soft belly, Belize crocodile/alligator, Lagarto Pantanero, Lagarto Panza

DISTRIBUTION:
Belize, Guatemala, Mexico

HABITAT:
Mainly areas of freshwater, including swamps and marshes in forested areas. More recently found in brackish water around coastal areas. Juveniles utilize dense cover. Adults are known to sleep in burrows during the adverse conditions associated with the dry season

STATUS:
IUCN-International Union of Conservation of Nature (LOW RISK, CONSERVATION DEPENDENT)
Estimated wild population: 10,000 to 20,000
Summary: Significant conservation program underway

APPEARANCE:
Relatively small species, usually reaching 9ft in length. Snout is quite broad for a crocodile. General tone is darker - a greyish brown with darker bands and spots on body and tail. Iris is silvery brown. Juvenile colouration is a brighter yellow with black banding.

DIET:
Juveniles consume small invertebrates as well as vertebrates (generally small fish). Their diet expands to include a greater variety of prey as they grow larger such as aquatic snails, fish, reptiles including mud turtles, birds, and mammals - including domestic animals.

BREEDING:
20 to 45 eggs are laid in a mound nest (approximately 3 m wide by 1 m high) before the onset of the rainy season. This is located near water, or on floating vegetation. Nests have been found which contain eggs from more than one female. Females guard the nest during the incubation period (around 80 days), and have been observed responding to the calls of juveniles by opening the nest during hatching. Both female and male parents protect the juveniles from both predators and aggressive crocodiles.

CONSERVATION:
Due to the high quality of the skin, the numbers of Morelet's crocodile were severely depleted by hunting during the 50’s and 60’s, and the trend continues through further illegal and indiscriminate taking of skins. Increased development of the rainforest areas is also threatening the survival of the species. There has been a reduction in density near human population centres in Belize, for example, and although the species is said to be widely distributed in Mexico, it appears that habitat destruction may be causing a steady decline.

Biology and ecology of this species is still little known, although more data are becoming available from ongoing studies in Belize. Development of sustainable use programs is also underway - commercial farming operations have appeared, and both Belize and Guatemala have shown interest in sustainable management programs. More complete survey data are required first, however.