History of changes

History of changes

Introduction

A tropicopolitan family which is regarded either as embracing the crocodiles, alligators and caimans (totalling 22 living species in 7 genera) or containing only the true crocodiles (13 living species in 3 genera). Most crocodylids are fierce predators, although only a few species, including Crocodylus porosus, are known to prey on man. Two species occur in Australia.

Crocodiles are semi-aquatic reptiles which hunt in the water but emerge to bask on mud and sand banks. They are oviparous, laying their eggs in specially constructed nest mounds. The female usually guards the nest and assists the young to emerge and reach the safety of water.

Diagnosis

The principal characteristics of crocodiles are their large heavily built bodies, development of a thick skin containing a body armour of osteoderms and gastral four-chambered heart, a longitudinal cloacal aperture and a single penis; their adaptations to an aquatic existence include a secondary palate and a pair of transverse fleshy throat valves isolating the air passages from the mouth, valvular nostrils and a powerful muscular tail for aquatic locomotion.

General References

Cogger, H.G. 1979. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Sydney : A.H. & A.W. Reed 608 pp.

Pan, T., Miao, J-S., Zhang, H-B., Yan P., Lee, P-S., Jiang, X-Y., Ouyang, J-H., Deng, Y-P., Zhang B-W, . & Wu X-B. 2020. Near-complete phylogeny of extant Crocodylia (Reptilia) using mitogenome-based data. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 20: 1-15

Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1961. Schildkröten, Krokodile, Brückenechsen. Jena : Gustav Fischer 422 pp.

Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien; Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. Das Tierreich 100: i-xxvii, 1-174

Worrell, E. 1970. Reptiles of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xv 169 pp.

History of changes

• Crocodylus Laurenti, J.N. 1768. Synopsin Reptilium. Vienna : J. Thomae 214 pp. [53].

  Type species:

   Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768 by subsequent designation, see Brown, A.E. 1908. Generic types of nearctic Reptilia and Amphibia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 60: 112-127.
• Crocodylus Gronovius, L.T. 1763. Zoophylacium Gronovarium, exhibens animalia Quadrupeda, Amphibia atque Pisces, quae in museo suo adservavit. Lugduno-Batavia : T. Haak Vol. 1. [10] [nom. nud., Gronovius work rejected for nomenclatural purposes under the international Commission on Zoological Nomenclature Opinion 89, 1925].

  Type species:

   Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768 by subsequent designation, see Brown, A.E. 1908. Generic types of nearctic Reptilia and Amphibia. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 60: 112-127.
• Crocodillus Scopoli, G.A. 1777. Introductio ad Historiam Naturalem, sistens genera lapidum, plantarum et animalium hactenus detecta, caracteribus essentialibus donata, in tribus divisa, subinde ad leges naturae. Prague : Wolfgangus Gerle 506 pp. [463 Index An. 3] [for Crocodylus or Crocodilus Bertrand, 1763 (based on fossil material)].
• Crocodilus Gmelin, J.F. 1789. Amphibia, Pisces. In Linnaeus, C. Systema Naturae in quo naturae regna tria, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, systematice proponuntur. 13th edn Vol. 1(3). 1033-1516 pp. [1057] [replacement name for Crocodylus Laurenti, 1768 see Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien; Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. Das Tierreich 100: i–xxvii, 1–174].

  Secondary source:

   Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien; Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. Das Tierreich 100: i-xxvii, 1-174.
• Crocodilus Bonnaterre (L'Abbé) 1789. Tableau Encyclopédique et Méthodique des trois règnes de la nature. Erpétologie. Paris : Panckoucke xxviii, 70 pp. [32].

  Type species:

   Crocodilus caudiverbera Bonnaterre, 1789 by subsequent designation, see Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp. (?= Crocodylus acutus (Cuvier, 1807)).
• Mecistops Gray, J.E. 1844. Catalogue of the Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphibians in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum viii 80 pp. [57].
• Oopholis Gray, J.E. 1844. Catalogue of the Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphibians in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum viii 80 pp. [58] [described as subgenus of Crocodilus; Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp. erroneously designated Crocodylus porosus Schneider as type species].

  Type species:

   Crocodilus oopholis Schneider, 1801 by absolute tautonymy.

  Secondary source:

   Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp.
• Motinia Gray, J.E. 1844. Catalogue of the Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphibians in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum viii 80 pp. [60] [described as subgenus of Crocodilus].

  Type species:

   Crocodilus americanus Laurenti, 1768 by monotypy.
• Palinia Gray, J.E. 1844. Catalogue of the Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Amphibians in the Collection of the British Museum. London : British Museum viii 80 pp. [60] [described as subgenus of Crocodilus].

  Type species:

   Crocodilus rhombifer Cuvier, 1807 by monotypy.
• Bombifrons Gray, J.E. 1862. A synopsis of the species of crocodiles. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 10: 265-274 [269] [Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp. erroneously designated Crocodylus siamensis Schneider as type species].

  Type species:

   Crocodilus bombifrons Gray, 1844 by absolute tautonymy (= Crocodylus palustris Lesson, 1831).

  Secondary source:

   Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp.
• Molinia Gray, J.E. 1862. A synopsis of the species of crocodiles. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 10: 265-274 [272] [almost certainly an emend. for Motinia Gray, 1844, although Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp. treat it as a new genus with type species Crocodylus americanus Laurenti, 1768].

  Secondary source:

   Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp.
• Temsacus Gray, J.E. 1862. A synopsis of the species of crocodiles. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 10: 265-274 [272] [described as subgenus of Molinia Gray, 1862].

  Type species:

   Crocodylus intermedius Graves, 1819 by monotypy.
• Philas Gray, J.E. 1874. On Crocodilus johnstoni. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1874: 177-178 [178 pl. 27] [described as subgenus of Crocodilus].

  Type species:

   Crocodylus johnstoni Krefft, 1873 by monotypy.
• Molina Romer, A.S. 1956. Osteology of the Reptiles. Chicago : Univ. Chicago Press xxii 772 pp. [604] [error for Molinia Gray, 1862].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Smith, H.M. & Smith, R.B. 1977. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Vol. 5. Guide to Mexican Amphisbaenians and Crocodilians. Bibliographic Addendum 2. North Bennington, Vermont : John Johnson 187 pp.
• Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien; Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. Das Tierreich 100: i-xxvii, 1-174
• Cogger, H.G., in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. 313 pp. in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [58]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Afrotropical Region—Africa, Madagascar, Oriental Region—southern and SE Asia, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Australian Region—Oceania, Neotropical Region—southern and SE North America, Central America, northern South America.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Crocodilus johnsoni Krefft, G. 1873. Remarks on Australian crocodiles, and description of a new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1873: 334-335 [335].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM 4629 skeleton (AM 4627 stuffed skin minus head from same specimen), Cashmere, upper Herbert River, QLD.
• Tomistoma krefftii Krefft, G. 1873. Remarks on Australian crocodiles, and description of a new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1873: 334-335 [334] [nom. nud.; introduced in synonymy].
• Crocodilus (Philas) johnstoni Gray, J.E. 1874. On Crocodilus johnstoni. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1874: 177-178 [177, pl. 27] [justified emendation of Crocodilus johnsoni Krefft, 1873].
• Philas webbi Wells, R.W. & Wellington, C.R. 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology Supplementary Series 1: 1-61 [Date published September, 1985] [8].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM R93176, McKinlay River, NT [13°12'S 131°41'E].

  Secondary source:

   Shea, G.M. & Sadlier, R.A. 1999. A catalogue of the non-fossil amphibian and reptile type specimens in the collection of the Australian Museum: types currently, previously and purportedly present. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum 15: 1-91.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Cogger, H.G., in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. 313 pp. in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [58]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Kimberley (CK), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Fall and Uplands (GFU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Mount Isa Inlier (MII), Northern Kimberley (NK), Pine Creek (PCK), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Amphibious, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, noctidiurnal, oviparous, predator, riparian, swamp.

Extra Ecological Information

Seasonal breeder, general carnivore.

General References

Grigg, G.C. & Alchin, J. 1976. The role of the cardiovascular system in thermoregulation of Crocodylus johnstoni. Physiological Zoology 49: 24-36

Johnson, C.R. 1973. Behaviour of the Australian crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstoni and C. porosus. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 52: 315-336

Johnson, C.R., Webb, G.J.W. & Tanner, C. 1976. Thermoregulation in crocodilians. II. A telemetric study of body temperature in the Australian crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstoni and Crocodylus porosus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 53A: 143-146

Somaweera, R. Woods, D. & Sonneman, T. 2014. A note on the Australian freshwater crocodiles inhabiting Tunnel Creek cave, West Kimberley. Records of the Western Australian Museum 29: 82-87

Webb, G.J.W. 1981. Nesting biology of Crocodylus johnstoni in the Northern Territory. 107 in Banks, C.B. & Martin, A.A. (eds). Proceedings of the Melbourne Herpetological Symposium, 1980. Melbourne : Zoological Board of Victoria pp. 44-54.

Common Name References

CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Freshwater Crocodile)

History of changes

• Crocodilus porosus Schneider, J.G. 1801. Historiae Amphibiorum Naturalis et Literariae. Jena : Frommani Fasc. 2 vi 374 pp. [159].

  Type data:

   Lectotype ZMB 278, unknown; lectotype labelled 'India', but type locality restricted to Sri Lanka.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Mertens, R. 1960. Zur Systematik und Nomenklatur der Ceylon-Krokodile. Senckenbergiana Biologica 41: 267-272.

  Type locality references:

  Mertens, R. 1960. Zur Systematik und Nomenklatur der Ceylon-Krokodile. Senckenbergiana Biologica 41: 267-272.
• Crocodylus natans Meyer, F.A.A. 1795. Synopsis Reptilium, sistematis novam generum methodum, nec non Gottingae ordinis animalium enumerationem. Göttingen : Vandenhoeck u. Ruprecht. [20] [nom. oblit.].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Sri Lanka.
• Crocodilus oopholis Schneider, J.G. 1801. Historiae Amphibiorum Naturalis et Literariae. Jena : Frommani Fasc. 2 vi 374 pp. [165].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, (none designated), unknown but restricted to Sri Lanka.

  Type locality references:

  Mertens, R. 1960. Zur Systematik und Nomenklatur der Ceylon-Krokodile. Senckenbergiana Biologica 41: 267-272.
• Crocodilus biporcatus Cuvier, G. 1807. Sur les differentes espèces de crocodiles vivans et sur leurs caractères distinctifs. Annales du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris 10: 8-86 [48].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP ?, Java and Timor, Indonesia; Sri Lanka; restricted to Java.

  Type locality references:

  Mertens, R. & Wermuth, H. 1955. Die rezenten Schildkröten, Krokodile und Brückenechsen. Eine kritische Liste der heute lebenden Arten und Rassen. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik 83: 323-440.
• Crocodilus biporcatus raninus Müller, S. & Schlegel, H. 1844. Over de Krokodillen van den Indischen Archipel. In Temminck, C.J. Verhandelingen over de Natuurlijke en Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche Overzeesche Bezittingen. Zoologie: Reptilia. Leiden : Natuurkundige Commissie in Indie 28 pp. [28, pl. 3 figs 7-8].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) RMNH, Borneo.
• Oopholis pondicherianus Gray, J.E. 1862. A synopsis of the species of crocodiles. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 10: 265-274 [268, pl. 7].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH, Pondicherry, India.
• Crocodylus porosus australis Deraniyagala, P.E.P. 1953. A Coloured Atlas of Some Vertebrates from Ceylon. Vol. 2. Tetrapod Reptilia. Colombo : Govt. Press vii 101 pp. [34] [type citation refers only to p. 12 in Barrett, C. 1950. Reptiles of Australia. London : Cassell 168 pp., which lacks any description, but type citation probably refers to figure on facing page p. 13].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, (no type designated), Australia.

  Secondary source:

   Barrett, C. 1950. Reptiles of Australia. London : Cassell 168 pp.
• Crocodylus porosus minikanna Deraniyagala, P.E.P. 1955. A new race of estuarine crocodile from Ceylon. Spolia Zeylanica 27: 277-279 [277].

  Type data:

   Holotype COM ID (mounted head and neck), Bolgoda, Sri Lanka.
• Crocodylus pethericki Wells, R.W. & Wellington, C.R. 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology Supplementary Series 1: 1-61 [Date published September, 1985] [7].

  Type data:

   Holotype NTM not specified (holotype 'a large stuffed and mounted male (5.3 metres total length) nicknamed 'Sweetheart'...on public display in the lower vertebrate gallery in the NTM'), Sweets Lookout Billabong, Finnis River, NT.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Wermuth, H. & Mertens, R. 1977. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien; Testudines, Crocodylia, Rhynchocephalia. Das Tierreich 100: i-xxvii, 1-174
• Cogger, H.G., in Cogger, H.G., Cameron, E.E. & Cogger, H.M. 1983. Amphibia and Reptilia. 313 pp. in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 1 vi + 313 pp. [59]
• Shea, G.M. & Sadlier, R.A. 1999. A catalogue of the non-fossil amphibian and reptile type specimens in the collection of the Australian Museum: types currently, previously and purportedly present. Technical Reports of the Australian Museum 15: 1-91 [59]

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Also the western Pacific and Indo-Malaysian regions.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA

NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Arnhem Plateau (ARP), Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Central Arnhem (CA), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Daly Basin (DAB), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Pine Creek (PCK), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)

Ecological Descriptors

Amphibious, estuary, inshore, lentic freshwater, lotic freshwater, noctidiurnal, oviparous, predator, swamp.

Extra Ecological Information

Seasonal breeder, general carnivore.

General References

Drane, C.R., Webb, G.J.W. & Heuer, P. 1977. Patterns of heating in the body, trunk and tail of Crocodylus porosus. Journal of Thermal Biology 2: 127-130

Grigg, G.C., Taplin, L.E., Harlow, P. & Wright, J. 1980. Survival and growth of hatchling Crocodylus porosus in saltwater without access to fresh drinking water. Oecologia (Berlin) 47: 264-266

Johnson, C.R. 1973. Behaviour of the Australian crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstoni and C. porosus. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 52: 315-336

Johnson, C.R., Webb, G.J.W. & Tanner, C. 1976. Thermoregulation in crocodilians. II. A telemetric study of body temperature in the Australian crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstoni and Crocodylus porosus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 53A: 143-146

Magnusson, W.E. 1979. Dispersal of hatchling crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) (Reptilia, Crocodylidae). Journal of Herpetology 13: 227-231

Magnusson, W.E. 1980. Hatching and crèche formation by Crocodylus porosus. Copeia 1980: 359-362

Magnusson, W.E. & Taylor, J.A. 1980. A description of developmental stages of Crocodylus porosus, for use in aging the eggs in the field. Australian Wildlife Research 7: 479-485

Magnusson, W.E. & Taylor, J.A. 1981. Growth of juvenile Crocodylus porosus as affected by season of hatching. Journal of Herpetology 15: 242-245

Webb, G.J.W., Messel, H., Crawford, J. & Yerbury, M.J. 1978. Growth rates of Crocodylus porosus (Reptilia Crocodilia) from Arnhem Land. Australian Wildlife Research 5: 401-415

Webb, G.J.W. & Messel, H. 1978. Morphometric analysis of Crocodylus porosus from the north coast of Arnhem Land, northern Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 26: 1-27

Common Name References

CAVS 2006. Census of Australian Vertebrate Species. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Saltwater Crocodile)

History of changes