Marsh Crocodile

Facts

IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)

Facts about this animal

The Marsh Crocodile has a comparatively short snout, which is bluntly rounded at its tip, only 1.3 to 1.5 times as long as broad at the level of the front corners of the eyes. The surface is smooth or wrinkled in old specimens, without bony ridges or elevated areas in front of the eyes. The colour of the upper body surface is dark olive, in youngsters somewhat lighter and with dark crossbands on the sides of the trunk and tail. The lower surface is uniformly light, without dark blotches. The iris is greenish. It can grow up to 6 m, but is usually about 4 m.

Did you know?
that the vernacular name "Mugger" used in India is a corruption of the Hindi word magar which means "water monster"?

Factsheet
Class	REPTILIA
Order	CROCODYLIA
Suborder	EUSUCHIA
Family	CROCODYLIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Crocodylus palustris
Name (English)	Marsh Crocodile
Name (French)	Crocodile de marais
Name (German)	Sumpfkrokodil
Name (Spanish)	Cocodrilo marismeño
Local names	Sinhala: Geta kimbula Tamil: Chaanakan.
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Karunakar Rayker

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Bangladesh (ex) , India , Iran (Islamic Republic of) , Myanmar (?), Nepal , Pakistan , Sri Lanka.
Habitat	Freshwater rivers, lakes and marshes, but may also be found in coastal saltwater lagoons
Wild population	Approx. 5'000-10'000. Although bred in farms, the populations in the wild are not safe, because suitable habitat is dwindling fast.
Zoo population	17 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 42 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

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Photo Copyright by
Kmanoj

Why do zoos keep this animal