- Crocodylus novaeguinae
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New Guinea Crocodile Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Crocodilia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Species: C. novaeguineae Binomial name Crocodylus novaeguineae
(Schmidt, 1928)The New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae) is a small species of crocodile found on the island of New Guinea.
Contents
Description
Crocodylus novaeguineae grows to a length of up to 3.5 m for the males and 2.7 m for the females. The body is grey-brown in colour, with dark brown to black markings on the tail. The snout is pointed and relatively narrow during juvenile stages and becomes wider as the animal matures. It bears a physical similarity to the nearby Philippine crocodile (C. mindorensis) and Siamese crocodile (C. siamensis). C. mindorensis was once held to be a subspecies (C. novaeguineae mindorensis) of the New Guinea crocodile, but is now considered to be separate.
Habitat
The primarily nocturnal crocodile is to be found in the freshwater swamps and lakes of New Guinea, particular in the interior. Although tolerant of saltwater, it is rarely to be found in brackish coastal waters, and never in the presence of the competing saltwater crocodile (C. porosus). Two populations of C. novaeguineae are known on the island, separated by a mountain range; DNA analysis has revealed these to be genetically separate populations.
References
- "New Guinea Crocodile". Crocodilians. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/csp_cnov.htm. Retrieved 2006-10-15.
External links
Extant Crocodilian species Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Sauropsida · (unranked): Archosauria · Superorder: Crocodylomorpha Family Gavialidae Family Alligatoridae Alligatorinae
(Alligators)Caimaninae
(Caimans)Related articles on alligators, caimans, crocodiles and gharials Topics Human
interactionU.S. Alligator fatalities · Crocodile attacks · Alligator farm · Crocodile tears · Famous crocodiles and alligators · Sewer alligatorCategories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Crocodilians
- Crocodylidae
- Reptiles of New Guinea
- Archosaur stubs
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