Orinoco Crocodile
Crocodylus intermedius
Conservation Status
Critically EndangeredReptilia · Crocodylidae
About
The Orinoco crocodile is a critically endangered crocodile. Its population is very small, and they can only be found in the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and Colombia. Extensively hunted for their skins in the 19th and 20th centuries, it is one of the most endangered species of crocodiles. It is a very large species of crocodilian; males have been reported up to 6.8 m in the past, weighing over 900 kg (2,000 lb), but such sizes do not exist today, 5.2 m being a more widely accepted maximum size. A large male today may attain 4.2 m in length and can weigh up to 450 kg (1,000 lb), while females are substantially smaller with the largest likely to weigh around 225 kg (496 lb). Sexual dimorphism is not as profound as in other crocodilian species. The coloration is light even in adults.
Fun Fact
m (13 ft 9 in) in length and can weigh up to 450 kg (1,000 lb), while females are substantially smaller with the largest likely to weigh around 225 kg (496 lb).
Quick Facts
Habitat
Restricted to the middle and lower reaches of the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela and Colombia.
Diet
Preys on a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles, including caimans on occasion.
Lifespan
70–80 years
Threats
- Habitat Destruction
- Pollution
- Invasive Species
- Over-Collection
- Climate Change