The Crocodilians 



species than the alligator. Its long, narrow and pointed head 

 at once distinguishes it. 



Compared with the alligator, the teeth arc larger (longer) 

 and more pointed. By a peculiar development of the snout — 

 immediately in front of the nostrils — two of the teeth of the lower 

 jaw usually pierce the upper, bony process and their points 

 glisten above the dark skin of the snout. 



Colouration. — Young specimens are distinctly greenish, 

 with black markings. Half grown individuals and young adults 

 are olive, while very old specimens are dull gray. The olive or 

 gray tints may be at once recognised from the black, or blue- 

 black of an alligator, and if the creature be in the water and the 

 head not clearly distinguishable, the colour is a good character 

 upon which to judge the animal's kind. 



Dimensions. — As the Crocodile in Florida frequents portions 

 of the peninsula that are less disturbed than the domains of the 

 alligators, occasional very large specimens are recorded. The 

 maximum length appears to be about fourteen feet. Specimens 

 eleven and twelve feet long are not rare in the extreme southern 

 portion of the state. 



Following are the measurements of an adult, female specimen, 

 in the New York Zoological Park: 



Total length lo feet, 2j inches. 



Length of Tail 4 feet, 9 " 



Length of Head 22 



Length of Largest Teeth i " 



Girth of Body . 3 feet, 1 1 



Weight 280 pounds. 



Distribution. — The American Crocodile was first discovered 

 in the United States by Mr. William T. Hornaday. North of 

 Mexico, the species occurs only in the extreme southern por- 

 tion of the Florida peninsula. Regarding it, Mr. Hornaday 

 writes: "The presence of a true crocodile in Florida was not 

 discovered until 1875, when a pair of specimens of large size 

 were collected in Arch Creek, at the head of Biscayne Bay, by 

 Mr. C. E. Jackson and the writer. The male measured 14 feet 

 2 inches (with 4 inches of his tail missing) and the female 10 

 feet 8 inches. Since that date, at least seventy specimens have 

 been taken between Lake Worth and Cape Sable. Lake Worth 

 IS the Northern limit of the species, but it is most abundant in 



90 



