American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

[epaiva]

(11-02-2023, 01:21 AM)GuateGojira Wrote:

(11-02-2023, 01:03 AM)Balam Wrote: @GuateGojira that's a great find. Orinoco crocodiles surpass in size both American crocodiles and black caimans with modern records of 5+ meter specimens, despite the massive overhunting. 

A mature Orinoco male from the Patrullero de Chávez breeding facility in Venezuela is claimed to measure 4.9 meters in lenght but with a weight of 730 kg. Orinocos are notorious for their weight relative to lenght as well.



The Nile crocodile is popularly regarded as the second largest crocodile in the world, but that's greatly disputed when we consider the historical sizes of Orinoco crocodiles which challenged even the largest salties. For context, no reliable record exists of a Nile crocodile above 6.1 meters in lenght, where despite their massive populations, males above 4.5 meters are very rare to come by.

The Neotropical crocodiles certainly deserve their dues in this regard.

Ohhhh, I did not knew that. So Orinoco crocs are real giants. I believe that some of the biggest crocodiles in America are as large as some of the largest crocs in Africa/Asia. The problem is that very few has been actually measured and even less weighed. Litterature are full of estimations and doubtfull measurements.

Yes we have a few giants here in Venezuela, in a breeding facility in Estado Guarico we had two big ones one very close to 5 meters long that died a few years back after fighting with another a little smaller about 4,70 with out a part of the tail. I saw a huge wild one at least 5 meters long a few years back in Hato El Frio, Apure, Venezuela. You are right not many are measured and their numbers are very low. According to Mr Omar Hernandez one of the experts working very hard to preserve them only about 100 females Orinoco Crocodiles breed in Venezuelan Llanos today. Reply