Evolution		Temperature Regulation
	Crocodiles, Alligators or Gharials?		Behaviour
	Classification of Living Crocodilians		Foods and Feeding
	The Crocodilian Body		Reproduction
	Locomotion		Respiration

Classification of Living Crocodilians There are 23 recognised species of extant crocodilians, divided into three Families – Alligatoridae (8 species; alligators and caimans), Crocodylidae (14 species; “true” crocodiles and Tomistoma) and Gavialidae (1 species; gharial).

Class Reptilia Order Crocodilia Family Alligatoridae (alligators, caimans)     American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis         Black Caiman Melanosuchus niger         Broad-snouted Caiman Caiman latirostris         Chinese Alligator Alligator sinensis         Spectacled Caiman Caiman crocodilus         Yacare Caiman Caiman yacare         Cuvier's Dwarf Caiman Paleosuchus palpebrosus         Schneider’s Smooth-fronted Caiman Paleosuchus trigonatus     Family Crocodylidae       Subfamily Crocodylinae (“True” crocodiles)         African Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis         African Slender-snouted Crocodile Crocodylus cataphractus         American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus         Australian Freshwater Crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni         Cuban Crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer         Morelet’s Crocodile Crocodylus moreletii         Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris         New Guinea Freshwater Crocodile Crocodylus novaeguineae         Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus         Orinoco Crocodile Crocodylus intermedius         Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis         Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus         Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis       Subfamily Tomistominae         False Gharial Tomistoma schlegelii   Family Gavialidae (gharial)         Indian Gharial Gavialis gangeticus

Sources: G. Webb and C. Manolis (1989). “Crocodiles of Australia” (Reed Books: Sydney); K. Richardson, G. Webb and C. Manolis (2000). “Crocodiles: Inside and Out” (Surrey Beatty and Sons: Sydney).

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