CROCODYLIDAE
The CROCODYLIDAE consists of the true crocodiles. These animals are characterized by having relatively slender jaws, a triangular snout, both the upper and lower teeth visible and the most important thing, the fourth tooth in the lower jaw being visible. You see in crocodylians the fourth tooth of the lower jaw is always the largest. They are the equivalant of the fangs in a tiger and like tiger fangs, these teeth are set in a special part of the mouth. In the crocodylines this special part is a groove on the outside of the upper jaw. This makes the tooth visible from the outside instead of hidden like in alligatorines. This probably doesn't sound so important when comparing living animals, but it comes in pretty handy when trying to figure out extinct ones.
Now the CROCODYLIDAEis the largest and most diverse of the living crocodylians. It comprises 13 living species and 3 genera. It also contains the largest crocodylians in the world.
Some other things that set crocodylines apart from alligatorines and gavialines is that they are more active and aggresive. They span the largest territory and are also the most dangerous to man.
Below is a list of all the worlds living crocodylines. Just click on the one that you would like to learn more about.
| Crocodylus |
Osteolaemis |
Tomistoma |
| rhombifer |
tetraspis |
schlegelii |
| moreletii |
| acutus |
| cataphractus |
| niloticus |
| intermedius |
| porosus |
| johnsoni |
| palustris |
| siamensis |
| mindorensis |
| novaeguinae |
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