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Orinoco Crocodile
Crocodylus intermedius
CR · Critically EndangeredSouth AmericaReptileCarnivore
🏷️
Classification
Reptile
🍽️
Diet
Carnivore
⏱️
Lifespan
50–70 years
⚖️
Weight
200–400 kg
Population Trend
📉Decreasing
Description
A large crocodilian endemic to the Orinoco River basin, one of the most endangered reptiles in the world.
Habitat
🌿 river🌿 freshwater wetland🌿 lagoon
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Crocodylia
Family
Crocodylidae
Genus
Crocodylus
Fun Facts
1
They can grow up to 5 meters, making them the largest predator in their range.
2
Hunted nearly to extinction for their valuable hide in the early 20th century.
3
Fewer than 250 mature individuals remain in the wild.
4
They are apex predators that help control fish populations in the Orinoco basin.
5
Conservation breeding programs have released hundreds back into the wild.