Crocodilians

Komodo99

Komodo99

Well-Known Member
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?
 
Komodo99 said:
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?
Click to expand...
Nope it's true, Dublin do have Desert Crocodile.
 
bongorob said:
So when did they arrive?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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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 :D

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!
 
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