Creature Feature – Philippine Crocodile
To celebrate our new Crocodile Internship, courtesy of Crocodile Research Coalition, today we take a look at the world’s most threatened crocodile species, the Philippine crocodile. The Philippine crocodile, also known as the Mindoro crocodile, the Philippine freshwater crocodile, the bukarot and more generally as a buwaya in most Filipino lowland cultures, is one of two species of crocodiles found in the Philippines; the other is the larger saltwater crocodile. The species was assessed as Critically Endangered in 2008 from exploitation and unsustainable fishing methods, such as dynamite fishing.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Crocodylus mindorensis
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Crocodylia
Family: Crocodylidae
Genus: Crocodylus
Gregg Yan
Philippine Crocodile Fact File
Size: Adults can reach a length of up to 3m and weigh up to 90kg
Distribution: The Philippine crocodile is found in just a few locations within the Philippine archipelago with key populations located on just two of the islands
Diet: Juveniles eat invertebrates such as dragonflies, shrimps, snails, as well as small fish and amphibians. As they grow, the prey base increases to include large fish, pigs, dogs, civet cats, snakes and water birds
Behaviour: Philippine crocodiles rest in the sun during the day to warm up. Like other species, they hey will open their mouth to release heat. This species is able to float on the water’s surface and to control their buoyancy they will ingest stones
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered. It is estimated only between 92 and 137 mature wild individuals remain. Top threats include habitat use by local people, persecution of crocodiles in the Philippines, and entanglement in fishing nets
