Orinoco Crocodile Essay, Research Paper

ORINOCO CROCODILE

Location:

The Orinoco Crocodile is located in Columbia and Venezuela in South America. It lives in the Orinoco River Basin, which is how it gets its name. The total population is about 1,500 crocodiles.

Habitat:

During the rainy season, the river gets waterlogged, which means that it overflows with water creating temporary rivers. In the dry season, the water dries up, so they move closer to shore and build burrows. Some Orinoco Crocodiles have been sighted in Trinidad, which is 150 miles north of Venezuela. This is probably caused by flooding.

Appearance:

The Orinoco Crocodile is one the largest crocodiles known. The maximum length for a male is seven meters long or about 23 feet. It has a long and narrow snout.

Diet:

Baby crocodiles eat small fish, while adult crocodiles eat fish, some land animals and birds approaching the water. Occasionally people are taken. These incidents are very rare.

Why is it endangered?

The Orinoco Crocodile is endangered for many reasons. One of the reasons is hunting, not by humans, but by others animals. The Tingu Lizard (a relative of the Monitor Lizard) and the Vulture can be a problem for crocodile eggs. Another reason they are endangered is because of egg poaching, which means that people steal the eggs. With humans and other animals taking the eggs, fewer babies are being born. They also are killed for their hides. The last reason is destruction of their habitat. When their habitat is destroyed, so are their resources and food.

Resources: Crocodilian Species List website: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_cint

Bibliography

Resources: Crocodilian Species List website: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_cint