Orinoco Crocodile

Facts

IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)

Facts about this animal

The Orinoco Crocodile has a very long snout, up to 2.8 times as long as broad at the level of the front corners of the eyes and more than 5 times as long as broad at the level of the nasal swelling. The surface is smooth, without bony ridges or unpaired elevations in front of the eyes. The colour of the upper body surface is olive, with dark crossbands on the trunk and on the tail. The lower surface is uniformly light, without dark blotches. The iris is greenish. It can grow up to a length of 7 m, but is usually about 4 m.

Did you know?
that all crocs store fat in their tails, so they can go for quite a while without eating if necessary as long as two years for some big adults?

Factsheet
Class	REPTILIA
Order	CROCODYLIA
Suborder	EUSUCHIA
Family	CROCODYLIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Crocodylus intermedius
Name (English)	Orinoco Crocodile
Name (French)	Crocodile de l'Orénoque
Name (German)	Orinokokrokodil
Name (Spanish)	Cocodrilo del Orinoco
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

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Mauriciogq

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Colombia, Venezuela
Habitat	Freshwater riverine
Wild population	Approx.: 250-1'500. C. intermedius is today one of the most endangered crocodile species in the world. This giant (up to a length of 7m) lives today only in very few spots in Colombia and Venezuela and is highly threatened by illegal killing and habitat destruction, despite strict protection and management through ranching.
Zoo population	13 reported to ISIS

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

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

Find this animal on ZooLex

Why do zoos keep this animal

C. intermedius is very rarely exhibited in zoos. Breeding for conservation purposes would however be higly welcome in this species.

How this animal should be kept

C. intermedius requres very spacious, structured (e. g. by logs) enclosures with sandy parts. There is a distinct territorial behavior among males, however keeping a pair or one male and two females is possible. The surrounding fence or moat needs to be strong and have substantial foundations as crocodilians are very good at digging. In temperate or colder climatic zones keeping outdoors may, however, be possible at best during the summer period.

Mostly, the animals will have to be kept in indoor facilities where the following minimum standards should apply: For a pair of adults an enclosure with no less than 15 m² land and 20 m² water surface is required, for each additional adult both, land and water part, are to be enlarged by 5 m². Average water depth 120 cm. Floor temperature locally 35 ºC (floor heating), air temperature 24-30 ºC, water temperature 24-26 ºC. Humidity 60-80 %. Light phase 12-14 h per day, HQI lamps. Daily ultraviolet irradiation.