This thread is to discuss the species of crocodilians kept in zoos.What species are more common or rare than others,list of species that you have seen,where and what zoo did you see them at,compare exhibits and whether or not you may have interacted with them. Here is my list Saltwater Crocodile(Australian Reptile Park,Manly Aquarium) West African Dwarf Crocodile(Handled at WWT Martin Mere at the Animal Magic event) Freshwater Crocodile(Australian Reptile Park) Sunda Gharial(Chester Zoo) American Alligator(Australian Reptile Park) Spectacled Caiman(Chester Zoo) Yacare Caiman(Blackpool Zoo) Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman(Blue Planet Aquarium)
Might as well give this one a crack; for the sake of simplicity this list doesn't take into account the ongoing splits taking place within the Slender-snouted Crocodile and Dwarf Crocodile. Species I am yet to see are in bold: Crocodylus acutus Crocodylus intermedius Crocodylus johnsoni - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2016) Crocodylus mindorensis - first seen at Chester Zoo (2010) Crocodylus moreletii - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013) Crocodylus niloticus - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013) Crocodylus novaeguineae Crocodylus palustris Crocodylus porosus - first seen at Paignton Zoo (2012) Crocodylus rhombifer - first seen at Paignton Zoo (2012) Crocodylus siamensis - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013) Crocodylus suchus Mecistops cataphractus - first seen at Colchester Zoo (2013) Osteolaemus tetraspis - first seen at Coast to Coast Exotics (date unknown) ---- Gavialis gangeticus - first seen at Zoo Berlin (2014) Tomistoma schlegelii - first seen at Paignton Zoo (2012) ---- Alligator mississippiensis - first seen at Welsh Mountain Zoo (2011) Alligator sinensis - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013) Caiman crocodilus - first seen at Chester Zoo (2011) Caiman latirostris - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013) Caiman yacare - first seen at Blackpool Zoo (2011) Melanosuchus niger - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013) Paleosuchus palpebrosus - first seen at Coast to Coast Exotics (date unknown) Paleosuchus trigonatus - first seen at Crocodiles of the World (2013)
It is worth noting that had I chosen to visit Protivin whilst in the Czech Republic last month, I could have seen three of the species which I am missing; however I decided not to visit the collection in question due to how tricky it is to reach by public transport and a (frankly idiotic) ban on all photography which is enforced at the collection.
On my visit there in 2009, St, Augustine Alligator Farm claimed to have every recognised species of crocodilian. Given the various ongoing changes in crocodile taxonomy, I expect that collection is now missing a few species but it is certainly the most comprehensive set crocodilians that I've ever seen.
My list, locations and dates given if known Crocodylidae;Alligatorinae AMERICAN ALLIGATOR (Alligator mississippiensis) CHINESE ALLIGATOR (Alligator sinensis) London Zoo 1988 SPECTACLED CAIMAN (Caiman crocodilus) BROWN CAIMAN (Caiman fuscus) Blackbrook Zoo 2007 (some doubt as to what this was - labelled as fusucs, but I think it was crocodilus) BROAD-FRONTED CAIMAN (Caiman latirostris) Crocodiles of the World 2011 YACARE CAIMAN (Caiman yacare) Blackpool Zoo 2000 BLACK CAIMAN (Maleosuchus niger) Crocodiles of the World 2011 CUVIER'S DWARF CAIMAN (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) SCHNEIDER'S DWARF CAIMAN (Paleosuchus trigonotus) Crocodiles of the World 2011 Crocodylidae;Crocodylinae AMERICAN CROCODILE (Crocodylus acutus) Welsh Mountain Zoo 1984 JOHNSTON'S CROCODILE (Crocodylus johnstoni) Chester Zoo 1980 PHILIPPINE CROCODILE (Crocodylus mindorensis) Chester Zoo 2009 MORELET'S CROCODILE (Crocodylus moreletii) Cotswold Wildlife Park 2006 NILE CROCODILE (Crocodylus niloticus) EAST AFRICAN NILE CROCODILE (Crocdylus niloticus africanus) SOUTH AFRICAN NILE CROCODILE(Crocodylus niloticus cowani) Crocodiles of the World 2011 MUGGER CROCODILE (Crocodylus palustris) Bristol Zoo 1986 SALTWATER CROCODILE (Crocodylus porosus) Paignton Zoo 2008 CUBAN CROCODILE (Crocodylus rhombifer) Crocodiles of the World 2011 SIAMESE CROCODILE (Crocodyklus siamensis) Crocodiles of the World 2011 WEST AFRICAN NILE CROCODILE (Crocodylus suchus) Dublin Zoo 2009 SLENDER-SNOUTED CROCODILE (Mecistops cataphractus) Colchester Zoo1994 DWARF CROCODILE WEST AFRICA 1 (Osteolaemus sp. nova.) Whipsnade Zoo NORTHERN DWARF CROCODILE (Osteolaemus tetraspis) Chester Zoo CONGO DWARF CROCODILE (Osteolaemus osborni) Chester Zoo Gavialidae;Tomistominae FALSE GAVIAL (Tomistoma schlegelii) Chester Zoo 1979
Cuban Crocodile- Colchester, 2015 Tomistoma- Chester, 2015 Freshwater Crocodile- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Morelet's Crocodile- Cotswolds, 2015 Philippine Crocodile- Chester, 2009 Saltwater Crocodile- Paignton, 2016 Siamese Crocodile- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Slender-Snouted Crocodile- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Nile Crocodile- West Midlands Safari Park, 2013 Desert Crocodile- Dublin, 2015 West African Dwarf Crocodile- Bristol, 2013 American Alligator- West Midlands Safari Park, 2013 Black Caiman- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Broad-Snouted Caiman- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Chinese Alligator- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Cuvier's Dwarf Crocodile- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Smooth Fronted Caiman- Crocodiles of the World, 2016 Yacare Caiman- Blackpool, 2016 Spectacled Caiman- Chester, 2011
I forgot to put this on my list but I saw the two American Alligators at Welsh Mountain Zoo last year.
ZG has advised me that the brown caiman I have listed as seen at Blackbrook is a subspecies of spectacled caiman, and that the identification was correct. I consider ZG's knowledge of the order Crocodilia to be excellent so I appreciate his input.
For those who have seen Saltwater Crocodiles in particular in captivity,what is the best exhibit you saw them in? My ranking would go Australian Reptile Park because of the size of the enclosure,paired with nice weather you will see the croc and it is a big one. Sydney Aquarium From memory,I only remember seeing one adult and it was moderately large but had the enclosure all to itself.It was being fed at the time and the keeper had a large fish as food and a shield to keep the croc back as they were getting the croc to show off for the crowd.I was lucky to be right at the front of the crowd when the croc lunged forward and grabbed the fish. Photos can be found on the media page.
For me (In no particular order): American Alligator: Chester Zoo, Welsh Mountain Zoo West African Dwarf Crocodile: Chester Zoo, Amazon World, Blue Planet Philippine Crocodile: Chester Zoo Spectacled Caiman: Chester Zoo, Amazon World, Stapeley Water Gardens West African Crocodile: Copenhagen Zoo (previously thought to be Nile Crocodile) Yacare Caiman: Blackpool Zoo Morelet's Crocodile: Knowsley Safari Park Smooth-Fronted Caiman: Salzburg Zoo False Gharial: Chester Zoo Cuvior's Dwarf Caiman: Blue Planet Fake Crocodile: South Lakes Wild Animal Park This is all of them but I am so sure that I have forgotten something.
According to Zootierliste,Dublin Zoo have held Desert Crocodiles(Crocodylus Suchus) since 2015 Can this source be proven true or is it another mistake of the website?
Although I can't say exactly when they arrived at Dublin, it was many years ago: 1990s or 2000(decade). They were, just like Copenhagen's (they're on long-term loan from there), originally believed to be Nile. Genetic testing of questionable "Nile" crocs in European zoos to identify the newly recognized West African/desert was only initiated a few years ago, around 2012-13. By now most (if not all) of the reportedly questionable have been tested, but since Nile are kept at numerous places, including some without larger scientific departments, it is possible that more "hidden" West African/desert are out there.
I'm not going to go into specifics of which species I've seen where, but I'll say which I've seen and which I haven't, with one place I remember seeing them at. Using TLD's template.... Crocodylus acutus Crocodylus intermedius Crocodylus johnsoni Crocodylus mindorensis - London Crocodylus moreletii Crocodylus niloticus - wild (South Africa) Crocodylus novaeguineae Crocodylus palustris Crocodylus porosus - wild (Borneo) Crocodylus rhombifer - Colchester Crocodylus siamensis Crocodylus suchus - Artis Mecistops cataphractus - Colchester Osteolaemus tetraspis - Whipsnade ---- Gavialis gangeticus Tomistoma schlegelii - Chester ---- Alligator mississippiensis - Loro Parque Alligator sinensis - London Caiman crocodilus - Chester Caiman latirostris - Burgers' Zoo Caiman yacare - Burgers' Zoo Melanosuchus niger Paleosuchus palpebrosus - London Paleosuchus trigonatus A visit to Crocodiles of the World that I have planned this year should sort me for most of the others, plus trips to Prague and Plzen.
Since everyone's doing it now Crocodylus acutus Crocodylus intermedius Crocodylus johnsoni - Wild (Australia) Crocodylus mindorensis - Kölner Zoo Crocodylus moreletii - Krokodýlí Zoo Praha Crocodylus niloticus - Wild (South Africa) Crocodylus novaeguineae - Berlin Zoologischer Garten Crocodylus palustris Crocodylus porosus - Wild (Australia and Singapore) Crocodylus rhombifer - Krokodýlí Zoo Praha Crocodylus siamensis - Krokodýlí Zoo Praha Crocodylus suchus - Dublin Zoo Mecistops cataphractus - Diergaarde Blijdorp Osteolaemus tetraspis - Zoo Leipzig ---- Gavialis gangeticus - Singapore Zoo Tomistoma schlegelii - Natura Artis Magistra ---- Alligator mississippiensis - Pairi Daiza Alligator sinensis - Shanghai Zoo Caiman crocodilus - ZOO Antwerpen Caiman latirostris - Burgers' Zoo Caiman yacare Melanosuchus niger Paleosuchus palpebrosus - Diergaarde Blijdorp Paleosuchus trigonatus - ZOO Plzeň Should be seeing Yacare caiman in September in Montreal, but not quite a full set yet after that!
