Interactions
Because the crocodilians are secondary consumers and also top
predators, they tend to be higher up in the food chain and therefor have a predatory relationship with many species of fish,
turtles, and small to large mammals. Due to the fact that crocs
spend much of their time in the
water, it is not unusual for
largemouth bass,
smallmouth bass, and certain species of fish that are over
populated to be the main course for most meals. Another popular meal for the American crocodile is a
turtle. One species of a turtle that these animals tend to prey
on is the
Chelydra serpentine, or the snapping turtle. Due to the
incredible amount of force that crocodiles bite down with,
breaking the hard shells of turtles is actually quite an easy
task. When it comes to larger adult crocodiles, they
sometimes tend to feed on larger prey sources to acquire enough nutrients
in one meal compared to eating numerous small meals. One mammal
that has been observed being preyed on by crocodiles is the
White Tailed Deer. When the deer wander down to
the water’s edge, they are unknowingly being watched and stalked
by the crocodiles. Slowly, the croc begins to inch closer and
closer to the unsuspecting deer until it is just a few feet away
from its prey and then bam! The crocodile will clamp down on the
deer and drag it into the water to drown it and once it is dead
will proceed to consume it.
Due to the fact that Crocodylus acutus lives in a
normal habitat and not an extreme one, there are numerous other
organisms that share the same habitat. One of the mo
re common
ones that people think of when they picture a tropical habitat
on the coast is the bottlenose dolphin. Wild boars, a common
relative of the
pig, also tend to occupy the same habitat as the American
crocodile, especially in southern Florida where wild boar
populations are jumping through the roof. Another animal that
people would probably not think to associate with the crocodile
is the cougar, or
Puma concolor. These large cats can be found in
southern Florida and also largely in Central America. Along with
the White Tail Deer, the domestic cow is also sometimes a target
for larger crocodiles when they are along the shores.
Although American crocodile attacks on humans are rare and far
from a problem, humans have been impacting the American crocodile population for
a very long time. The main impact that humans have had on the
crocs is the disruption of their natural habitat by clearing out
forests and implementing new developments. Before the 2000’s,
the American crocodile had been listened as endangered by the
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, but as of 2007 this species of
crocodiles has been downgraded to threatened. Due to this, they
are still protected from harassment, poaching, and killing under
Federal Law. Prior to restrictions, crocodiles were hunted for
their skin as it was used for handbags, clothing, shoes, and
other products. In the southern U.S and Central America, the
American crocodile was also hunted for its meat. Today
alligators and
snakes are the main source of reptiles used in textiles. As
far as Crocodylus acutus being a sustainable food
source for humans, they are not
considered sustainable due to
the fact they are protected. If the population of crocodiles
were high enough, they would be hunted for their meat just as
the American alligator is. In the future if the population
continues to recover as it is now, it could be a possibility
that humans return to hunting the crocs for their meet and using
them as a sustainable food source. Continue on to learn more
mind blowing facts about the crocodilians. Interesting Facts
