CROCODILED jE. 



Genus CROCODILUS, 

 Laur. Syn. Kept. p. 53 (part.), 1768. 



17 to 19 upper and 15 lower teeth on each side ; fifth maxillary 

 tooth largest ; the fourth mandibular usually fitting into a notch 

 in the upper jaw. Snout more or less elongate ; nasal bones ex- 

 tending to the nasal aperture, which is undivided and larger than 

 the supratemporal fossae. Splenial bones not entering the man- 

 dibular symphysis, which does not extend beyond the eighth tooth. 

 A dorsal shield formed of four or more longitudinal series of juxta- 

 posed, keeled, bony scutes. 



Distribution. Africa, Southern Asia, North Australia, Tropical 

 America. 



11 or 12 species appear to be well established. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



Snout* If to 2 times as long as broad C. porosus, p. 4. 



Siiout 1| to 1| times as long as broad C. palusfris, p. 5. 



2. Crocodilus porosus. 



Crocodilus porosus, Schneid. Hist. Ampli. ii, p. 159 ; Gilnth. Rept. 



JB. I. p. 62 ; Tfieob. Cat. p. 36 ; Boukny. Cat. Chel. $c. p. 284. 

 Oopholis poudicherianus, Gray, A. M. N. H. (3) x, 1862, p. 268. 

 Crocodilus pondicerianus, Gilnth. Rept. B. I. p. 62, pi. vii ; Theob. 



Cat. p. 36. 



17 to 19 upper teeth on each side. Snout 1| to 2| times as long 

 as broad at the base ; head rough, snout with a more or less strong 

 ridge on each side in front of the eye, slightly converging towards 

 its fellow ; mandibular symphysis extending to the fifth tooth ; 

 praemaxillo-maxillary suture, on the palate, directed backwards or 

 W-shaped ; nasal bones separating the praemaxillaries above. Pour 

 large nuchal scutes forming a square, with one or two smaller ones 

 on each side ; postoccipital scutes usually absent, sometimes small 

 and irregular. Dorsal shield well separated from the nuchal, the 

 scutes forming 16 or 17 transverse and 4 to 8 longitudinal series ; 

 scales on sides and limbs smooth or feebly keeled. Fingers webbed 

 at the base ; outer toes extensively webbed. A serrated fringe on 

 the outer edge of the leg. Adult dark olive above ; young pale 

 olive, with large black spots on the body and tail and dots on the 

 head. 



Hob. Bengal, East coast of India, Ceylon, Burma, and Southern 

 China to North Australia and the Solomon and Fiji Islands. 

 Entering salt water and frequently occurring out at sea. Not 

 recorded from West coast of India. It is not certain that this 

 species is found far above the tideway in rivers. 



A specimen 33 feet long is on record. 



* The snout is the portion of the head in front of the orbits. 



