FAMILY:
ALLIGATORIDAE
A. mississippiensis
A. sinensis
C. crocodilus
C. c. apaporiensis
C. c. fuscus
C. latirostris
C. yacare
M. niger
P. palpebrosus
P. trigonatus
FAMILY:
CROCODYLIDAE
C. acutus
C. intermedius
C. johnstoni
C. mindorensis
C. moreletii
C. niloticus
C. novaeguineae
C. palustris
C. porosus
C. rhombifer
C. siamensis
M. cataphractus
O. tetraspis
T. schlegelii
FAMILY:
GAVIALIDAE
G. gangeticus
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
[German]
One of the characteristics seen in (but not exclusive to) the American crocodile is the front two teeth which penetrate the upper jaw from below as they grow. Behind these teeth, the semi-circular openings of the raised nostrils can be seen - these are round when fully opened, but can be quickly closed by a valve at the rear. Also visible are the black sensory pits of the integumentary sense organs concentrated around the jaws - these are pressure sensors most likely involved in prey detection under water.
Photograph © Adam Britton
