New Guinea Crocodile

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The New Guinea Crocodile has a comparatively long snout, about 1.8 to 2.3 times as long as broad at the level of the front corners of the eyes. There is a short bony ridge in front of each eye, extending forwards at a distance corresponding to the diameter of the eye-socket. The colour of the upper body surface is drab olive, flecked with dark brown or black on the back, with dark crossbands on the sides of the trunk and the tail. The lower surface is uniformly light, without dark blotches. The iris is greenish. It can grow up to a length of 5 m, but is usually about 3 m.

Did you know?
that a croc's tongue doesn't move? It is attached to the bottom of its mouth.

Factsheet
Class	REPTILIA
Order	CROCODYLIA
Suborder	EUSUCHIA
Family	CROCODYLIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Crocodylus novaeguineae
Name (English)	New Guinea Crocodile
Name (French)	Crocodile du Nouvelle Guinée
Name (German)	Neuguinea-Krokodil
Name (Spanish)	Cocodrilo de Nueva Guinea
Local names	Bahasa: Buaya air tawar Irian
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Wilfried Berns

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
Habitat	Freshwater rivers, lakes and swamps, rarely found in coastal areas.
Wild population	Approx. 50'000-100'000. Due to planned management the wild populations are safe to a great extent.
Zoo population	12 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.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Why do zoos keep this animal

The species is only ocasionally shown in zoos and is rarely bred, although being a keystone species for its habitat it has definite educational value.

How this animal should be kept

As a medium-sized species, C. novaeguineae is well suited for being exhibited in zoos, where spacious and well structured enclosures can be provided. 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 12 m² land and 15 m² water surface is required, for each additional adult both, land and water part, are to be enlarged by 3 m². Average water depth 80 cm. The landpart should be structured e.g. by logs, the floor should be covered with sand or gravel. Floor temperature locally 35ºC (floor heating), air temperature 24-30ºC, water temperature 24-26ºC. Humidity 60-80 %. Light phase 12-14 h per day, HQI lamps. Daily ultraviolet irradiation. During the reproduction period foliage should be provided as nesting material.