CONSERVATION:
Information gathering on other species of crocodilians has led to the accumulation of a reasonable amount of survey data for this species. Due to the osteoderm-laden nature of the skin of this species it has, like P. palpebrosus escaped significant hunting pressure. Subsistence hunting has been of sufficiently low intensity to avoid damaging populations. Major present and future threats include with the ever-present spectre of habitat destruction, and pollution associated with gold mining activities. Commercial exploitation incentives are low, with collection in Guyana permitted for the pet trade and tourist trade. Management activities are based on a principally conservation-orientated approach. Future studies need, therefore, to shed more light on the biology and behaviour of this species, and inter-relationships between both members of the Paleosuchus genus. The long-term effects of the environmental pollution from gold mining also need to be examined for this and other South American crocodilians.
MORE INFORMATION:
For more information on distribution and conservation issues for this species,see the CSG Action Plan resource.
SIGNIFICANT REFERENCES:
Godshalk, R.E. (1982). The habitat and distribution of Paleosuchus in Venezuela. In: Crocodiles. Proc. Fifth Working Meeting of the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, Gainesville, Florida. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. p.31-38
Magnusson, W.E. (1985). Habitat selection, parasites and injuries in Amazonian crocodiles. Amazonia 9:193-204
Magnusson, W.E. (1989). Paleosuchus. In: Crocodiles. Their Ecology, Management and Conservation. A Special
Publication of the IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. p.101-109
Magnusson, W.E., Da Silva, E.V. & Lima, A.P. (1987). Diets of amazonian crocodilians. J. Herpetology. 21:85-95
Magnusson, W.E., Lima, A.P. & Sampaio, R.A. (1985). Sources of heat for nests from Paleosuchus trigonatus and a review of crocodilian nest temperatures. J. Herpetology 19(2):199-207
Magnusson, W.E. & Lima, A.P. (1991). The ecology of a cryptic predator, Paleosuchus trigonatus, in a tropical rainforest. J. Herpetology 25:41-48