Cuban crocodile represents a family of real crocodiles. Body size can reach 350 centimeters with a weight of up to 130 kilograms. The body is painted in gray, and on the back you can see a pattern of yellow and black spots. The abdomen is lighter and without characteristic spots. Young individuals have a slightly more golden tint of the skin. The head is large and short, and over the eyes there are clearly noticeable bone processes resembling crests. A characteristic feature of this species is the absence of membranes between the fingers, since Cuban crocodiles are more adapted to land.
Also for better movement on land, this species has quite long limbs, which allow it to accelerate to 17 kilometers per hour. There are 68 teeth in the mouth. Scales of these representatives are quite large, in particular, on the hind limbs.
Habitat
This species was preserved only in the southeastern cube, namely, on the peninsula of Sapata and the island of Huvventud Archipelago Los Canarreios. Artificially settled the Cuban crocodile in the Alligators Park Gatorland in the city of Orlando, Florida. Cuban crocodiles live in fresh and slightly brackish water, but more time are on land.
Since the 50s, Cuban crocodiles began to massively dilute to get their unique skin and meat.
Food and hunting
A characteristic feature of Cuban crocodiles is their strong aggression and fearlessness. This representative can defeat even the largest rival. There were repeatedly encountered cases of attacks on people who led to their death.
Another distinctive feature of this representative is the mind and quick wits. Many Cuban crocodiles are combined to hunt large game. In search of prey, these reptiles go on land and hunt from an ambush, and thanks to their long legs, they can catch up with the victim at short distances. The main diet of the Cuban crocodile includes:
In the historical period, the Cuban crocodiles hunted huge Livists of megalknuses, but later they died out. The extinction of this species could affect a decrease in the size of Cuban crocodiles.
Reproduction
The season of propagation of Cuban crocodiles falls in the end of spring and early summer. Females organize nests from dirt and rotten plants, where they then lay off from 30 to 40 eggs. The incubation period takes from 58 to 70 days. Small crocodiles are hatched at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Cubs are born with body length up to 10 centimeter and weighing from 100 to 120 grams. The floor of the Cuban crocodile is determined by the temperature conditions. If the temperature in the nest was around 32 degrees Celsius, then the male is born.
Mothers of Cuban crocodiles guard eggs and help the kids after hatching to get to the water. In the first year of life, Cuban crocodiles are protected from any danger, as their mother looks after them and protects against possible threats.
But statistics say that among young individuals only 1% survive. This is due to the common cannibalism of senior crocodiles and hunting for young predatory animals.
