FAMILY:
ALLIGATORIDAE

A. mississippiensis
A. sinensis
C. crocodilus
C. c. apaporiensis
C. c. fuscus
C. latirostris
C. yacare
M. niger
P. palpebrosus
P. trigonatus

FAMILY:
CROCODYLIDAE

C. acutus
C. intermedius
C. johnstoni
C. mindorensis
C. moreletii
C. niloticus
C. novaeguineae
C. palustris
C. porosus
C. rhombifer
C. siamensis
M. cataphractus
O. tetraspis
T. schlegelii

FAMILY:
GAVIALIDAE

G. gangeticus

DICHOTOMOUS KEY
[German]

MAIN MENU

Head of a small juvenile Cuvier's dwarf caiman, floating at the water's surface. This is the typical crocodilian pose in the water, although the position of the body underneath the water can vary tremendously. The head always stay motionless, unless the crocodile is swimming of course. One of the first things that a juvenile will do when entering the water is assume this position. You can see that all the major senses are deployed: ears, eyes, nostrils, and even sense organs along the jaws (which are barely visible as small, black dots).

Photograph © John White

ALL IMAGES:
[click on image for enlargement]

	Two adult dwarf caimans holding onto a log		Head portrait of adult dwarf caiman		Adult caiman head from behind
	Developing head shape		Head of adult in water		Head of juvenile with water reflection
	Gaping juvenile