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THE SIAMESE CROCODILE

COMMON NAMES:
Siamese crocodile, Siamese freshwater crocodile, Singapore small-grain, Soft-belly

DISTRIBUTION:
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia (including Borneo and possibly Java), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam. The species may, however, be extinct in many of these areas.

HABITAT:
The ecology of this species is still very poorly understood. It probably prefers slow-moving areas of freshwater (swamps, sheltered parts of rivers and streams), and possibly brackish areas.

STATUS:
IUCN-International Union of Conservation of Nature (CRITICALLY ENDANGERED)
Estimated wild population: Under 5,000
Summary: Extinct or nearly extinct in most countries except Cambodia.

APPEARANCE:
Maximum size 9-12ft. in males. Juveniles resemble light-coloured or golden tan with black stripes on tail and body, but the adults have broader snouts.

DIET:
Mostly fish, but also amphibians, reptiles and possibly small mammals - the broad snout suggests a generalist feeding strategy. Again, very little is known of the feeding preferences.

BREEDING:
Captive animals have been found to mature at around 10 years. This species is known to breed during wet season (April and May), and lay 20 to 50 eggs in a mound nest which is then guarded by the female. Hatching occurs after around 80 days, at which time the female will open the nest and carry the hatchlings to the water. It is unknown how long, if at all, she guards her brood.

CONSERVATION:
The Siamese crocodile has a critical status in the wild (i.e. virtually extinct). In recent years, surveys have been undertaken to assess its true status, as before there is virtually no reliable data were available on its distribution. This made population estimates very difficult and, although more data are now available, a real assessment of its actual status in the wild is still not available.
Major threats to the continued survival of this species in the wild come from habitat destruction including conversion to agricultural land and hunting. However, it appears that its status is not quite as bleak as a few years ago, as proper surveys have revealed some populations and identified the threatening factors. Also, the skin of this species is considered to be valuable, and therefore commercial use and management become a viable conservation strategy. The species is also considered to be relatively inoffensive and a low threat to humans.