Wikipedia

Cuban crocodile

TheCuban crocodile(Crocodylus rhombifer) is a small-medium species ofcrocodileendemictoCuba.Typical length is 2.1–2.3 m (6.9–7.5 ft) and typical weight 70–80 kg (150–180 lb). Large males can reach as much as 3.5 m (11 ft) in length and weigh more than 215 kg (474 lb). Despite its smaller size, it is a highly aggressive animal (one of the most territorial of all crocodilians), and potentially dangerous to humans.

Cuban crocodile
Temporal range:Pleistocene–Present,2.6–0Ma[1]
↓
AtZapata Swamp,Matanzas Province,Cuba
CITESAppendix I(CITES)[3]
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Archosauromorpha
Clade: Archosauriformes
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Crocodylidae
Genus: Crocodylus
Species:
C. rhombifer
Binomial name
Crocodylus rhombifer
Cuvier,1807
Cuban crocodile range
Synonyms

The Cuban crocodile is of interest to biologists for its unique physical and behavioral traits. Long- and strong-legged, it is the most terrestrial ofextantcrocodiles. Its preferred habitat comprisesfreshwaterandbrackish waterenvironments, such asmangrove swamps,coastallagoons,estuaries,marshes,floodplains,andriver deltas.There, the adults feed on fish, turtles and small mammals, while the young eatinvertebratesand smaller fish. Mating occurs between May and July. Captive animals have displayedcooperative huntingbehavior, and can be taught tricks, suggestingintelligence.

The Cuban crocodile is listed asCritically Endangeredby theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature.Once spread across theCaribbean,its range has dwindled to including only theZapata SwampandIsla de la Juventud,due to hunting by humans. Captive breeding projects are in place to help the species recover. The species fossil record reveals it had at one point a greater range, with fossil remains being found inThe Bahamas,[4]Hispaniola(in theDominican Republic), and theCayman Islands.[5]

Taxonomy

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ThegenusCrocodyluslikely originated in Africa andradiatedoutwards towards Southeast Asia and the Americas,[6]although an Australasian origin has also been considered.[7]Phylogeneticevidence supportsCrocodylusdiverging from its closest recent relative (the extinctVoayofMadagascar) around 25 million years ago, near theOligocene/Mioceneboundary.[6]

Below is acladogramutilizing data from a 2018tip datingstudy by Lee & Yates, simultaneously usingmorphological,molecular (DNA sequencing), andstratigraphic(fossilage) data,[8]as revised by the 2021 Hekkalaet al.paleogenomicsstudy using DNA extracted from the extinctVoay.[6]

Crocodylinae

Voay†

Crocodylus
Asia+Australia

Crocodylus johnstoniFreshwater crocodile

Crocodylus novaeguineaeNew Guinea crocodile

Crocodylus mindorensisPhilippine crocodile

Crocodylus porosusSaltwater crocodile

Crocodylus siamensisSiamese crocodile

Crocodylus palustrisMugger crocodile

Africa+New World

Crocodylus suchusWest African crocodile

Crocodylus niloticusNile crocodile

New World

Crocodylus moreletiiMorelet's crocodile

Crocodylus rhombiferCuban crocodile

Crocodylus intermediusOrinoco crocodile

Crocodylus acutusAmerican crocodile

Characteristics

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Cuban crocodile

The Cuban crocodile has numerous characteristics that set it apart from othercrocodilians,such as its brighter adult colors, rougher, more 'pebbled'scales,and long, strong legs. This is a small to mid-sized crocodilian. Typical adults were found to have measured 2.1 to 2.73 m (6 ft 11 in – 8 ft 11 in) in length and weighed 70 to 120 kg (150 to 260 lb).[9][10]Large males can reach as much as 3.5 m (11 ft) in length and weigh 215 kg (474 lb) or more.[11]Three individuals measuring 1.87 to 2.46 m (6 ft 2 in – 8 ft 1 in) and weighing 30–65 kg (66–143 lb) had a bite force of 1,392–3,127N(313–703lbf).[12]

Distribution and habitat

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Today, the Cuban crocodile can only be found inCuba'sZapata SwampandIsla de la Juventud,where it is highly endangered. It formerly ranged elsewhere in theCaribbean;fossilsof this species have been found in theCayman Islands,[13]The Bahamas[14][15]and Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic).[16]

The Cuban crocodile appears to favor freshwater habitat such asswamps,marshes,andriversand rarely swims in saltwater.[17]

Biology and behavior

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This species has been observed to display peculiar behavior not observed in other crocodilians. A colony of this species has exhibited what is strongly suspected to be pack-hunting behavior, which may explain the predation ofprehistoricmegafaunathat coexisted with this species, such asgiant Caribbean slothsandgiant West Indian tortoises.The behavior has prompted much interest in the species, usually kept singly (especially so after such reports).[18] This species is also the most terrestrial of the crocodiles, with reduced webbing between digits on the hind feet and no webbing on the front feet.C. rhombiferexhibits highly intelligent behaviour unusual for crocodilians.[19]

Hunting and diet

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Smallfish,arthropods,andcrustaceansmake up the diet of young Cuban crocodiles. Adults of the species feed mostly upon smallmammals,fish,andturtles.They have blunt rear teeth, which aid in crushing the shells of their turtle prey. Cuban crocodiles also demonstrate the jumping feeding technique seen in other crocodilians, such as theAmerican alligator.By thrusting with their powerful tails, they can leap from the water and snatch small animals from overhanging branches.[20]The Cuban crocodile, while not a particularly large species, is often regarded as the most aggressive New World crocodile[21]and is behaviorally dominant over the largerAmerican crocodilein areas where the two species coexist.[22]Data regarding attacks on humans are limited, but occurrences are likely rare given the species' very small distribution area and separation from human populations. Despite its reported aggression, there is only a single known fatal human attack by this species: an elderly man who was attacked and killed in 1995 while spearfishing in theZapata Swamp.[23][24]

Specimen atZoo Miami

Reproduction

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The mating season of the Cuban crocodile is between the months of May and July.[25]This is thought to be related to environmental changes, such as rainfall and temperature.[26]In the wild, crocodiles will nest in wetmarshes;where they will create trenches and cover the eggs with organic material.[26]In captivity, crocodiles will create mounds. During the nesting period, the Cuban crocodiles will lay between 30–40 eggs and the estimated incubation period is 58–70 days.[25]Hatching can occur from late August to early September. Due to thepredationof humans, raccoons, and other animals, many eggs will not hatch. At birth, hatchlings are approximately 2–3 inches in length, and are 1/4th of a pound in weight.[26]As with other crocodilians the sex of the Cuban crocodile's offspring is determined by the temperature in the nest. In conservation, the eggs are kept in incubators that provide a constant environment of 32 degrees Celsius in order to produce males.[26]Cuban crocodiles are an aggressive species and are known to have performed acts ofcannibalism.This is a contributing cause for the majority of offspring not surviving to the juvenile stage. In 2012, two Cuban crocodile hatchlings were born in conservation at theNational Zooin Washington, D.C.[27]This was the first time in 25 years that the Cuban crocodile had been successfully bred at this zoo.[27]

Conservation

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The Cuban crocodile is acritically endangeredspecies, listed onCITESappendix 1. Its restricted habitat and range make it very vulnerable. Humans have hunted this species to near extinction. Much research remains to be done on the remaining wild populations. The species is represented in captivity in Europe, the United States,[28][29]and in at least one zoo in India,[30][31][32]where breeding projects are taking place.

Hybridizationwith the American crocodile also represents a significant threat to the Cuban crocodile.[20][33]The loss of the unique genetic and behavioral characteristics of this species is increasingly significant. Genetic analysis has found that a high percentage of wild Cuban crocodiles (49.1%) and captive Cuban crocodiles (16.1%) are hybrids with the more abundant American crocodile.[34]

Two famous Cuban crocodiles reside in theSkansenAquarium inSweden.The crocodiles, named Castro and Hillary, were previously owned by the Cuban leaderFidel Castro,before giving them away to the cosmonautVladimir Shatalovin 1978. When Shatalov could no longer take care of the crocodiles, they were given to theMoscow Zoo,which in turn gifted them to the Skansen aquarium in 1981. The crocodile couple has produced numerous young since 1984.[35][36]One of the crocodiles was involved in an attack on a human in 2019 who held his arm over the enclosure during a crayfish party. The man survived but his arm was critically injured and had to be amputated.[35][37]

The largest Cuban Crocodile breeding farm in the world is Zapata Swamp Crocodile Breeding Farm.[38]It was suggested that 145 4-month old crocodiles bred at the farm were killed by feral cats in 2022, following an investigation by two biologists who manage the farm.[39]

References

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  1. ^Rio, Jonathan P.; Mannion, Philip D. (6 September 2021)."Phylogenetic analysis of a new morphological dataset elucidates the evolutionary history of Crocodylia and resolves the long-standing gharial problem".PeerJ.9:e12094.doi:10.7717/peerj.12094.PMC8428266.PMID34567843.
  2. ^McMahan, W., Targarona, R., Soberon, R. & Alonso Tabet, M. (2022)."Crocodylus rhombifer".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2022:e.T5670A130856048.Retrieved14 December2022.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^"Appendices | CITES".cites.org.Retrieved2022-01-14.
  4. ^"THE CUBAN CROCODILE (CROCODYLUS RHOMBIFER)FROM LATE QUATERNARY FOSSIL DEPOSITS IN THE BAHAMAS AND CAYMAN ISLANDS"(PDF).
  5. ^"Crocodylus rhombifer Cuvier 1807 (Cuban crocodile)".PBDB.
  6. ^abcHekkala, E.; Gatesy, J.; Narechania, A.; Meredith, R.; Russello, M.; Aardema, M. L.; Jensen, E.; Montanari, S.; Brochu, C.; Norell, M.; Amato, G. (2021-04-27)."Paleogenomics illuminates the evolutionary history of the extinct Holocene" horned "crocodile of Madagascar, Voay robustus".Communications Biology.4(1): 505.doi:10.1038/s42003-021-02017-0.ISSN2399-3642.PMC8079395.PMID33907305.
  7. ^Oaks, Jamie R. (2011)."A time-calibrated species tree of Crocodylia reveals a recent radiation of the true crocodiles".Evolution.65(11): 3285–3297.doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01373.x.PMID22023592.S2CID7254442.
  8. ^Michael S. Y. Lee; Adam M. Yates (27 June 2018)."Tip-dating and homoplasy: reconciling the shallow molecular divergences of modern gharials with their long fossil".Proceedings of the Royal Society B.285(1881).doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.1071.PMC6030529.PMID30051855.
  9. ^Larsson, Hans-Ove (2007). "Breeding the Cuban crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer at Skansen Aquarium".International Zoo Yearbook.28:110–113.doi:10.1111/j.1748-1090.1989.tb03263.x.
  10. ^Palmer, Jamie L.; Nieto-Claudín, Ainoa; Rodriguez, Gustavo Sosa; Fleitas, Etiam Perez; Augustine, Lauren; Deem, Sharon L. (July 2023)."Hematology and Blood Chemistry Values in Cuban Crocodiles (Crocodylus Rhombifer) Housed at the Zapata Swamp Crocodile Farm, Cuba".Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.54(2): 301–309.doi:10.1638/2022-0047.ISSN1042-7260.PMID37428692.
  11. ^"FLOG" history ".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-09-20.Retrieved2012-10-17.
  12. ^Erickson, G. M.; Gignac, P. M.; Steppan, S. J.; Lappin, A. K.; Vliet, K. A.; Brueggen, J. A.; Inouye, B. D.; Kledzik, D. & Webb, G. J. W. (2012)."Insights into the ecology and evolutionary success of crocodilians revealed through bite-force and tooth-pressure experimentation".PLOS ONE.7(3): e31781.Bibcode:2012PLoSO...731781E.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0031781.PMC3303775.PMID22431965.
  13. ^Morgan, Gary; Franz, Richard; Ronald Crombie (1993)."The Cuban Crocodile,Crocodylus rhombifer,from Late Quaternary Fossil Deposits on Grand Cayman "(PDF).Caribbean Journal of Science.29(3–4): 153–164.
  14. ^Franz, Richard; Morgan, G; Albury, N; Buckner, S (1995). "Fossil skeleton of a Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) from a blue hole on Abaco, Bahamas ".Caribbean Journal of Science.31(1–2): 149–152.
  15. ^Steadman, D. W.;et al. (2007-12-11)."Exceptionally well preserved late Quaternary plant and vertebrate fossils from a blue hole on Abaco, The Bahamas".PNAS.104(50): 19897–19902.Bibcode:2007PNAS..10419897S.doi:10.1073/pnas.0709572104.PMC2148394.PMID18077421.
  16. ^Gary S. Morgan; Nancy A. Albury; Renato Rímoli; Phillip Lehman; Alfred L. Rosenberger; Siobhán B. Cooke (2018)."The Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) from Late Quaternary underwater cave deposits in the Dominican Republic ".American Museum Novitates(3916): 1–56.doi:10.1206/3916.1.hdl:2246/6920.S2CID92375498.
  17. ^"Cuban crocodile".Smithsonian's National Zoo.2016-04-25.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  18. ^Alexander, Marc (2006-01-01)."Last of the Cuban crocodile?".Americas (English Edition).Organization of American States.ISSN0379-0940.Retrieved2010-07-09.
  19. ^""Smart Reptiles"".Dragons Alive.BBC, Animal Planet.Crocodiles are known to respond to various sounds but the way these Cuban crocs react to training illustrates a different level of intelligence.
  20. ^ab"Crocodilian Species - Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)".crocodilian.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  21. ^"Mark O'Shea - the Official Website".
  22. ^"Crocodile Specialist Group - Crocodylus rhombifer".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-26.Retrieved2011-08-30.
  23. ^"Crocodile Specialist Group - Crocodylus rhombifer - Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan".iucncsg.org.2010. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-26.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  24. ^CrocBITE, Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database:Cuban crocodile, 2 June 1995.Charles Darwin University,Northern Territory, Australia.
  25. ^abKristen, P. (2001). Crocodylus Rhombifer. Retrieved from Animal Diversity Web:.http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Crocodylus_rhombifer/
  26. ^abcdRamos Taragon, R. S. (2010). Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer). In S. M. C.Stevenson, Crocodiles Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan (pp. 114-118). Crocodile Specialist Group: Darwin.
  27. ^abPress., A. (2012, July 20). After decades, Cuban Crocodiles Born At D.C Zoo. Retrieved from CBS Baltimore:http://baltimore.cbslocal /2012/07/20/after-decades-cuban-crocodiles-born-at-dc-zoo/
  28. ^"Cuban Crocodile | Saint Louis Zoo".stlzoo.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-04-07.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  29. ^"Endangered Cuban crocodiles released into the wild".phys.org.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  30. ^"Crocodiles are affected by low frequency vibrations".downtoearth.org.in.5 April 2019.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  31. ^"Endangered Crocodile Dies From Shock and Stress Due to Loud Bass Music · Guardian Liberty Voice".Guardian Liberty Voice.2019-04-04.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  32. ^Staff Reporter (2019-04-05)."Croc death sparks concerns over noise levels from resort".The Hindu.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved2019-04-07.
  33. ^Weaver, J. P.; Rodriguez, D.; Venegas-Anaya, M.; Cedeño-Vázquez, J. R.; Forstner, M. R. J.; Densmore, L. D. III (2008). "Genetic characterization of captive Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) and evidence of hybridization with the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) ".Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology.309A(10): 649–660.Bibcode:2008JEZA..309..649W.doi:10.1002/jez.471.PMID18646197.
  34. ^Crane, Brent (October 17, 2017)."Saving the Endangered Cuban Crocodile".Scientific American.RetrievedOctober 17,2017.
  35. ^abAmy Woodyatt (21 August 2019)."Fidel Castro's crocodile bites man at aquarium party".CNN.Retrieved2019-08-24.
  36. ^"Kubakrokodil".Skansen-Akvariet(in Swedish). 2017-04-04.Retrieved2019-08-24.
  37. ^"Krokodilen bet av Lars arm"(in Swedish). 13 September 2019.
  38. ^Tien, C. (2024, May 10). Feral cats ate critically endangered baby crocodiles in Cuba, study suggests. LiveScience.https:// livescience /animals/feral-cats-ate-critically-endangered-baby-crocodiles-in-cuba-study-suggests
  39. ^Pérez-Fleitas, E., & Sosa-Rodriguez, G. (2024, April 19). Feral cats, a new threat to the Cuban Crocodile, Crocodylus rhombifer Cuvier, 1807 in Cuba?. Herpetology Notes.https:// biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/83056
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