Philippine freshwater (Mindoro) Crocodile
Critically endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Crocodylidae
Genus: Crocodylus
Species: C. mindorensis
Binomial name
Crocodylus mindorensis
_The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus
mindorensis) is a crocodile found only in the Philippines. It is also known as
the Mindoro crocodile and the Philippine freshwater crocodile. In the
Philippines, it is strictly prohibited to kill a crocodile, but its status is
critically threatened from exploitation and unsustainable fishing methods, such
as dynamite fishing. Conservation methods are being taken by the Dutch/Filipino
Mabuwaya foundation.
_Once considered a subspecies of the New Guinea
crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae), the Philippine crocodile is only found on
the islands of the Philippines. The Philippine crocodile does not grow as large
as some of the saltwater crocodiles that are indigenous to the same area. This
species of crocodile is one of the most severely threatened species around.
There are no more than 500-1,000 members of this species living outside of
captivity. Compared to other crocodiles, the Philippine Crocodile has a
relatively broader snout. Philippine crocodiles are relatively small, growing no
more than 3 meters. Females are slightly smaller than males. The species is
considered unaggressive, but will bite when harassed or trodden on.
_Although Philippine crocodiles, like all other
crocodiles, are formidable predators, taking large prey as antelopes, they allow
crocodile birds to scavenge among their teeth. Smaller specimens feed on fish,
shrimp, rats, and water snails.
_This crocodile was featured in National
Geographic's Dangerous Encounters hosted by crocodile specialist Dr. Brady Barr.
In one of the episodes, Barr was seeking to be the first person to see all
species of crocodile in the world, with the Philippine crocodile as the most
difficult. Fortunately, he was able to see a Philippine crocodile only about two
weeks old. Philippine crocodiles are golden-brown in color, while it grows
darker as it matures.
COMMON NAMES:
Philippine Crocodile, Mindoro crocodile, Philippine freshwater crocodile
NAME ETYMOLOGY:
Crocodylus is derived from the Greek krokodeilos which means literally
"pebble worm"
(kroko = pebble; deilos = worm, or man) referring to the appearance of a
crocodile.
mindorensis means "of Mindoro" (Mindoro Island, Philippines), derived from
mindoro + ensis (Latin for "belonging to")
SUBSPECIES:
This species was originally considered to be a subspecies of either C.
porosus or, more recently, C. novaeguineae (i.e. C. novaeguineae mindorensis).
There is limited evidence for a separate species called C. raninus, which is
very similar to C. mindorensis but restricted to Borneo, to be resurrected.
There is considered to be insufficient evidence to justify this, however, and C.
raninus is not officially recognised.
Recent genetic work suggests that specimens thought to be C. raninus may in fact
be C. porosus.
DISTRIBUTION:
Philippines (islands of Busuanga, Jolo, Luzon, Masbate, Mindanao, Mindoro,
Negros, Samar are part of the historical range, but the current distribution is
largely unverified - reported to be extirpated from Jolo, Luzon, Masbate and
Samar).
HABITAT:
Mainly restricted to freshwater areas - e.g. small lakes and ponds, small
riverine tributaries and marshes.
STATUS:
CITES: Appendix I
IUCN Red List: CR A1c, C2a (CRITICALLY ENDANGERED)
Estimated wild population: under 200
Summary: Considered at very high risk of extinction due to small
populations, limited distribution, negative local attitudes and ineffective
management.
APPEARANCE:
The Philippine crocodile is a relatively small species - males generally do
not grow larger than 3 meters, with females being smaller.
Has a relatively broad snout for a crocodile, and heavy dorsal armor. Similar
in morphology to C. novaeguineae, of which it was classed a subspecies until
fairly recently.
DENTITION:
5 pre-maxillary; 13-14 maxillary; 15 mandibular
Total no. of teeth = 66-68
DIET:
Mainly aquatic invertebrates and small vertebrates.
BREEDING:
This species constructs a relatively small (around 1.5 m wide x 0.5 m tall)
mound nest, into which the female deposits between 7 and 20 eggs. Incubation
time is approximately 85 days.
The female exhibits parental care.
CONSERVATION:
Although this species was once found over the whole of the Philippines, it is
now very critically threatened. In addition to this, very little is known about
the natural history or ecology of the species, or its relationship with C.
porosus, whose range it overlaps.
More surveys are required to determine the present range.
Initial population reduction was through commercial exploitation, although the
current threat is mainly from removal of suitable habitat for agricultural
purposes to satisfy a rapidly expanding human population.
There is also very limited governmental support for any conservation measures,
and the crocodiles are often killed by the local populace.
This situation needs to be changed through awareness programs.
Long-term captive breeding and release (through Silliman University and
international breeding centers) is judged to be the best course to take at the
present time, although it is imperative that a management program is drawn up
for the remainder of the wild population (most of which resides in only one
protected area).
In 1992, there were estimated to be less than 1000 animals in the wild.
In 1995, that estimate was revised to be no more than 100 non-hatchlings (note:
hatchlings are rarely counted in surveys because their survivorship is so low).
De Filipijnse krokodil (Crocodylus mindorensis) is een
soort uit de familie van de krokodillen (Crocodylidae) en komt alleen maar voor
in de Filipijnen.
De Filipijnse krokodil is een relatief kleine soort met een vrij brede bek.
De grootste mannetjes worden zo'n 3 meter lang.
Tot voor kort werd de Filipijnse krokodil beschouwd als een ondersoort van de
Nieuw-Guinese krokodil.
De Filipijnse krokodil komt voor zover bekend alleen nog voor op de Filipijnse
eilanden Mindanao, Negros en Mindoro in zoetwatermoerassen, toevoerwateren van
rivieren en kleine meertjes.
Het voedsel bestaat uit ongewervelden die in het water leven en kleine
gewervelden, grotere exemplaren eten ook grotere prooien.
Het nest dat het vrouwtje graaft voor de afzet van eitjes blijft vrij klein,
evenals het aantal eieren, 7 tot 22.
Als de jongen na ongeveer drie maanden uitkomen worden ze een tijdje beschermd
door de moeder.
Bescherming: De Filipijnse krokodil is samen met de
Chinese alligator het meeste bedreigde reptiel ter wereld.
De soort werd eigenlijk als uitgestorven beschouwd toen er in 1999 een populatie
werd ontdekt.
Er zouden tegenwoordig nog maar zo'n 100 volwassen Filipijnse krokodillen in het
wild leven.
De terugval in aantallen heeft een aantal oorzaken.
Vroeger werd veel op de Filipijnse krokodil gejaagd voor commerciële doeleinden.
Tegenwoordig is de grootste oorzaak de terugloop van het leefgebied van de
Filipijnse krokodil, ten behoeve van menselijk gebruik.
Wat daarnaast nog meespeelt is de slechte reputatie die zijn grote broer de
zeekrokodil heeft, waardoor de Filipijnse krokodil vaak gedood wordt wanneer men
er een tegenkomt. De Filipijnse krokodil is officieel een bedreigde diersoort,
maar er bestaat in de Filipijnen maar 1 gebied waar ze beschermd worden.
Daarnaast bestaat een fokprogramma om de soort in gevangenschap in leven te
houden.
Redactie: info(at)rijskamp.com
Cagayan
de Oro, June 23, 2007
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