Crocodiles in Belize

In Belize we say "alligator" in reference to our largest reptile, when it fact we mean crocodile.  That's how it is down here, we call things by all different names, other than what their real name is.  As a matter of fact, it is their teeth, that make the difference between whether its a crocodile or an alligator.  When the reptile closes its mouth, the elongated tooth on each side of its huge lower jaw fits into a notch on the outside of the upper jaw - it's front teeth also hang out, over its chin; when the reptile closes its mouth.  If you see this, then it's a crocodile, not an alligator.  Can you see in the picture above, how the crocodiles front teeth are hanging over his lower jaw?  We'll that's a characteristic of a crocodile.

These animals move by the temptation of the flesh, ANYONE'S FLESH!  For hours on end, they will lie in wait  - in excellent imitation of a log, their ears, eyes and nostrils aligned upon the water, with their powerful tails executing secret maneuvers beneath the surface.  Their skin is as tough as their outlook on life, and because of this, they have the tendency to endure and survive. 

Crocodiles will continue to grow throughout their lives.  Salt-water crocodiles are the largest, some measuring 23 feet and weighing over a ton.  Our Morelet's crocodile, is one of the smallest, attaining a length of only 8 feet, but our other species, the American crocodile, grows decidedly longer.

These beasts like to hang out near creeks, ponds, streams, rivers, lagoons.  They like to hide in mangrove swamps or storm-tide lowlands.  Believe it or not, the male actually goes a courting, first staking out and patrolling a chosen aquatic territory.  All alligators and crocodiles are egg layers, and have a high reproduction rate - necessary to counteract their propensity for eating their own young.   Between 20 and 70 eggs are produced and either left above ground or plastered up in security vault made of mud and grasses, near a water source.  It conditions, temperature and humidity remain stable within the chamber, it will take about 74 days for these eggs to incubate. 

When they are ready to attack the world, these little hatchlings begin to squeal to attract the attention of the adults to come and let them out (or eat them!).  They are tended by their parents for up to four months, and the young may stay in the vicinity of the nest for as long as eighteen months.  Initially they feed on water bugs, then on fish and frogs, and carrion.  In turn storks, egrets, and herons, raccoons and foxes feed on them, and the degree of mortality is acute.  However, if they do manage to survive, only men and anacondas are enemies of the adult crocodile.

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