# American Crocodile (*Crocodylus acutus*) The American Crocodile has a big smile and a long tail! They can be found in warm waters where they swim and sunbathe. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Snaps:** 22 - **Habitat:** Coastal waters, rivers, and lakes - **Also known as:** Central American Crocodile ![American Crocodile](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424507/objects/5642.jpg) ## Appearance The American Crocodile has a sleek, grayish-green or brownish body. Its distinctive narrow, V-shaped snout and visible fourth tooth when its mouth is closed differentiate it from alligators. They also have bony scales and ridges along their back and tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Crocodylia - **Order:** Crocodylia - **Family:** Crocodylidae - **Genus:** Crocodylus ## Interesting facts - Crocodile mothers guard their nests and even help hatchlings escape their eggs! - Crocodile tears are real! They make tears to clean their eyes, not just when eating. - They are one of the fastest reptiles in water, zooming at 32 kilometers per hour! - They can replace their teeth throughout their entire life, having up to 80 sets! ## Special abilities - **Salt Purifiers:** American Crocodiles can drink saltwater because of special glands in their tongue that remove extra salt. - **Jaw Crusher:** American Crocodiles have incredibly powerful jaws that can snap down with immense force, holding prey tightly. - **Temperature Tuner:** American Crocodiles can perfectly adjust their body temperature by basking in the sun or cooling off in the water. - **Murky Vision:** American Crocodiles have special clear eyelids that protect their eyes, helping them see clearly underwater. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 200-610 cm - **Weight:** 380-700 kg - **Lifespan:** 50-70 years - **Speed:** 17 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 32 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 20-60 - **Incubation:** 75-80 days ## Diet & Feeding They are top predators, eating fish, birds, turtles, and even small mammals they catch near the water. - **Age differences:** Young crocodiles eat mostly insects, crustaceans, and small fish; adults eat larger prey. - **Primary Foods:** fish, birds, turtles, crabs, raccoons, iguanas - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Nile Tilapia (*Oreochromis niloticus*) — An abundant fish, serving as a primary food source. - **Hunts:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Ambushes mammals that venture too close to the water. - **Hunts:** [Great Blue Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-blue-heron) (*Ardea herodias*) — Captures unwary wading birds at the water's edge. - **Eaten by:** Puma (*Puma concolor*) — Large predators occasionally target juvenile American Crocodiles. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify American Crocodile? Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is American Crocodile? 200-610 cm ### How much does American Crocodile weigh? 380-700 kg ### How long does American Crocodile live? 50-70 years ### How fast can American Crocodile move? 17 km/h ### What does American Crocodile eat? They are top predators, eating fish, birds, turtles, and even small mammals they catch near the water. ### How fast can American Crocodile swim? 32 km/h ### Where is American Crocodile usually found? Coastal waters, rivers, and lakes ## Where to spot - [Shark River Slough Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shark-river-slough-archeological-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Zoo Miami](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-miami) — Florida, US · Zoo - [Jones Family Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jones-family-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Monroe Lake Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monroe-lake-archeological-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Theater of the Sea](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/theater-of-the-sea) — US · Zoo [View all places to see American Crocodile](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/american-crocodile) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [American Crocodile: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-crocodile)