CHAPTER IX: THE CROCODILIANS 



ORDER CROCODILIA 



An Order Represented by Two Species in the United States the 

 American Crocodile and the Alligator 



Classification. The Order Crocodilia contains a single 

 family the Crocodilidce, and this is made up of six genera. 

 There is a total number of about twenty-three species, which 

 inhabit North and South America, Africa and Asia. The largest 

 species occur in the Old World. 



Structure. The general structure of the Crocodilians is 

 so well known that a detailed description would be super- 

 fluous. 



The Crocodilians are huge, lizard-like reptiles, and amphibious 

 in habits. The back is covered with rows of bony plates, each 

 surmounted by a high, sharp ridge. The limbs, tail and abdomen 

 are encased in a tough, leathery armour of coarse shields. Flat, 

 massive, provided with powerful jaws and studded with long, 

 stout teeth, the head is almost devoid of fleshy parts. Thick 

 and muscular at the base, the tail is much flattened toward 

 the terminal half and surmounted by raised, flat shields. It 

 is a powerful swimming organ. 



The North American species are easily separated, thus: 



Genus Alligator. Head broad and rounded at the snout. 

 Blackish, with dull yellow markings. 



THE ALLIGATOR, A. mississippiensis. 



Distribution. Southeastern United States. 

 Genus Crocodilus. Head narrow and pointed at the snout. 

 Olive, with blackish markings. 



AMERICAN CROCODILE, C. americanus. 



Distribution. In the United States southern 

 Florida, only. 



These reptiles are herewith considered in detail : 



83 



