26 



CROCODILES. 



presence of a longitudinal ridge on the skull between the eyes, although the snout 

 is smooth. It agrees with the latter in having the anterior bony plates of the neck 

 well developed, these being usually absent in the estuarine crocodile. 

 Sharp-Nosed The last member of this group is the sharp-nosed crocodile 



Crocodile, (jj americanus) of Central America, which has a longer and sharper 

 muzzle than any of the preceding, and is further characterised by the presence of 



sharp-nosed crocodile (■£„ nat. size). 



a distinct median ridge running down the snout. There are usually four large 

 bony plates on the neck, forming a square, with a smaller pair on the sides of the 

 front ones ; while the plates of the back are arranged in fifteen or sixteen trans- 

 verse rows, and in either four or six longitudinal bands. In the fore-limb the 

 second and third toes are but slightly webbed, while the outer toes of the hind- 

 foot are united by larger webs. In coloration the adult is blackish olive above, 

 and yellowish beneath; while the young are pale olive with black spots. In 

 addition to being widely distributed in Central America and the adjacent regions, 



