The mugger crocodile is a medium sized, broad snouted crocodilian of freshwater marshes, lakes, rivers and man made ponds across southeastern Iran and the Indian subcontinent, rarely exceeding five metres in length. It is a powerful swimmer that can also travel overland between water bodies during the dry season, and both juveniles and adults dig burrows for shelter when temperatures fall below 5 degrees Celsius or rise above 38. Females lay up to 46 eggs in sand nests, with the sex of hatchlings determined by incubation temperature, and both parents guard the young for about a year; juveniles eat insects before progressing to fish, reptiles, birds and mammals as adults. The species, which evolved roughly 4.19 million years ago, is legally protected in Iran, India and Sri Lanka but is classified as Vulnerable owing to habitat loss, entanglement in fishing nets and conflict with people. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleUsed in Traditional Medicine 2 Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Mugger crocodile (Wikidata)
In Biome
Source Mugger crocodile (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem
Source Mugger crocodile (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Mugger crocodile (Wikipedia)
Introduction
It was first scientifically described in 1831 and is protected by law in Iran, India and Sri Lanka. Since 1982, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Outside protected areas, it is threatened by conversion of natural habitats, gets entangled in fishing nets and is killed in human-wildlife conflict situations and in traffic accidents.
Introduction
The mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) is a medium-sized broad-snouted crocodile, also known as mugger and marsh crocodile. It is native to freshwater habitats from south-eastern Iran to the Indian subcontinent, where it inhabits marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds.
Lead section
They feed on insects, and adults prey on fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.
- Category: Fauna listed on CITES Appendix I
- In Biome: Freshwater, Wikipedia intro: "s a medium-sized broad-snouted crocodile, also known as mugger and marsh crocodile. It is native to freshwater habitats from south-eastern Iran to the Indian su..."
In Ecosystem: Sundarbans, Distribution and habitat
In Bangladesh, it was historically present in the northern parts of the Sundarbans, where four to five captive individuals survived in an artificial pond by the 1980s.
View the Source2. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Crocodylus palustris (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix I
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (hunted-fished)
Crocodylus palustris is killed for its skin to make leather products
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive (used-in-traditional-medicine)
Their bones and scales are fabled to have medicinal properties that the older generation still uses
View the Source 3. Mugger crocodile (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q81207 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
- Child Taxon Of: Crocodylus, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q309495 (Crocodylus)
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