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American Crocodile

Crocodylus acutus

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19.1817, -88.4791

Field Notes

Description:

I think is an American crocodile
or alligator ??
Photo take in a cave dive expedition fund 10 m / 33 ft from the entrance whit another like cow skull and bones, also found Mayan cauldrons on top of the bones.

Reference Links:

American crocodile

Species ID Suggestions

American Crocadile

Crocodylus acutus

Reference Link
EmilyMarino
2

Comments (7)
Gerardo Aizpuru
Thanks S Frazier Yes is a crocodile and also i don´t think is that old. I just add a 3 th photo from other croc skull that it was found in the same place and this one was on top of the debris, much more small than the first one
Scott Frazier
Apparently bones can last a very long time submerged in a cave: http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/18/skull_in_mexico_cave_may_be_oldest_american_found/?source=link_tw20110222ngnw-skull. Although I would be surprised if "this" crocodile skull was that old! During these present times there are two crocodile species in Mexico/Belize: Crocodylus acutus http://www.skullsunlimited.com/userfiles/image/variants_large_5657.jpg and C. moreletii http://crocodilian.com/cnhc/!cmor1.htm (There's also a caiman but the skull is from a croc). The most well known species that occurs in both salty and freshwater is the Asian species Crocodylus porosus.
Gerardo Aizpuru
Thanks Emily for the invitation to this mission i like to collect bones that I find on my way. This is a very amazing spot because the Mayan fixture where on top of the bones so it means they most be very old all this was reported to the INHA National institute of anthropology and history in México. And the Mayan fixtures where dated 650 year old.
EmilyMarino
Wow! Very Cool! Crocodiles in the Americas used to be very rare. I may be wrong, but I remember hearing that they are unique because they will live in saltwater and/or freshwater. I wonder how old that skull is?
Apple
Very cool spot indeed!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Identifying Animals Through Osteology
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 14, 2012

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