SCIENTIFIC NAME: Crocodylus siamensis
PHYLOGENY:The phylogenetic position of the Siamese crocodile is slightly controversial, but only because there are competing phylogenies for Crocodylus. Crocodylus crocodiles have often been thought to consist of distinct Indopacific and New World assemblages, with the Nile crocodile C. niloticus being a close relative of the New World assemblage. Morphological evidence suggests that the Siamese crocodile might be the sister-taxon to the Indopacific assemblage, or to a Mugger + Indopacific assemblage clade (Brochu 2000a, b, McAliley et al. 2006, Brochu & Storrs 2012).
CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom:
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Animalia
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Phylum:
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Chordata
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Class:
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Reptilia
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Order:
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Crocodylia
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Family:
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Crocodylidae
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Genus:
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Crocodylus
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Scientific name:
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Crocodylus porosus
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HABITATS: The Siamese crocodile mostly live in Southeast Asia. They live in a wide range of freshwater habitats, including slow-moving rivers and streams, lakes, marshes and swamplands.
NICHE:The Siamese crocodile is a small, freshwater crocodilian, with a relatively broad, smooth snout and an elevated, bony crest behind each eye. Overall, it is an olive-green colour, with some variation to dark-green. Young specimens measure 1.2–1.5 m (3.9–4.9 ft) and weigh 6–12 kg (13–26 lb), growing up to 2.1 m (6.9 ft) and a weight of 40–70 kg (88–150 lb) as an adult.The largest female specimens can measure 3.2 m (10 ft) and weight 150 kg (330 lb). Large male specimens can reach 4 m (13 ft) and 350 kg (770 lb) in weight. Most adults do not exceed 3 m (10 ft) in length, although hybrids in captivity can grow much larger.
DIET: The Siamese Crocodile is a freshwater crocodile. It tends not to attack people but prefers to feed on smaller prey, especially snakes, fish and rats.
CONSERVATION STATUS & THREATS: Siamese crocodiles areone of the most endangered crocodiles in the wild. They are nearly extinct in most countries except in Cambodia.This crocodile is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, and is listed on Appendix I of CITES.
Images from:
http://www.fauna-flora.org/species/siamese-crocodile/
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