Crocodiles part 15: Morelet's Crocodile

Morelet's crocodile is a medium-size species (seldom exceeding 3.5 m/12 feet). It lives in the Caribbean lowlands of southeastern Mexico, Belize and northern Guatemala, and has probably occurred in Honduras in the past. Escapees from commercial farms have colonized a few areas outside the natural range.

Morelet's crocodiles, ZOOMAT, Mexico.

Male Morelet's crocodile, ZOOMAT.

Compared to the sympatric American crocodile, it is darker, with much broader snout, high-bridged "nose" and dark eyes.

Female Morelet's crocodile, ZOOMAT.

Male Morelet's crocodile patrolling its territory, Rio Chajul.

Habitat of Morelet's crocodile - an oxbow lake near Rio Chajul.

In Chiapas it is called "swamp crocodile" - it inhabits small forest lakes and swamps. The American crocodile in this area prefers rivers, big lakes and coastal lagoons. The two can hybridize, but they have different calls and mating seasons.

Juvenile Morelet's crocodiles live in tiny forest ponds. Rio Chajul.

Stela T, showing Ancient Maya making sacrifices to a sacred crocodile. 8th century AD. Copan Village Archaeology Museum, Honduras.

Mayan crocodile carving, 7th century AD, Copan Village Archaeology Museum.

Skins of this species have high commercial value, and it's been hunted intensively, but a few places with high density still exist, particularly in Mexico. Now protected by law, it is still very shy - not an easy species to observe in the wild.

Morelet's crocodile, Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, Mexico.

Male Morelet's crocodile in an aggressive display, ZOOMAT.

Male Morelet's crocodile making a threatening jaw-slap, ZOOMAT.

It's mating season is in late March and April, more than a month later than that of the American crocodile.

Mating Morelet's crocodiles, ZOOMAT.

Eggs of (left to right): American crocodile, spectacled caiman and Morelet's crocodile in an incubator. ZOOMAT.

Egg of Morelet's crocodile, ZOOMAT.

Nests are built on lakeshores or on floating vegetation, and might contain eggs from more than one female.

Egg of American crocodile, ZOOMAT.

Juvenile Morelet's crocodiles, ZOOMAT.

Juvenile Morelet's crocodile, ZOOMAT.

Juveniles and even adults sometimes aestivate in burrows during the dry season.

Juvenile Morelet's crocodile, Rio Chajul.

Morelet's crocodile in an oxbow lake, Rio Chajul.

Part 16: Cuban crocodile

Back to Part 14

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