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
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
[German]
Occasionally, a genetic defect creates rare types of colouration. An albino animal lacks pigment in the skin, whereas a leucistic animal lacks melanin but retains some pigment. This Siamese crocodile is hypomelanistic, which means it has less melanin than normal, and is therefore much lighter - almost yellow on the dorsal surface. Several scars are also evident on this animal's head - usually indications of fighting over resources, territory, or breeding rights.
Photograph © Adam Britton
ALL IMAGES:
[click on image for enlargement]
Hypomelanistic sub-adult
