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]
Unlike Gavialis gangeticus, which this species resembles in terms of snout design, the snout tapers gradually from the back of the head (there is a distinct demarcation in the gharial). In keeping with longirostrine crocodilian species, fish forms a major part of the diet. However, the tomistoma is an opportunistic feeder, and its diet often includes crustaceans, insects and reportedly mammals. The nuchal plates, which can be seen at the base of the neck on this photograph, are continuous with the dorsal plates which contribute to the protective armour along the back. So far, 16 different kinds of nuchal scalation patterns have been identified in wild tomistoma.
Photograph courtesy of Steve Grenard
