Crocodiles
Florida's crocodiles have stepped back from the brink of extinction, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The government agency, which administers the country's endangered species list, has reclassified the Florida population of the American crocodile from "endangered" to "threatened."
The move means that the species is no longer in imminent danger of extinction in the United States but is still protected by federal law. The reptile remains endangered throughout the rest of its range, including Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean.
American crocodiles, which can reach 12.5 feet in length, are reclusive animals that live in the sheltered waters of coastal mangrove swamps and bays, creeks, and inland freshwater swamps. The reptiles resemble their relative, the American alligator, which is not an endangered species and is common throughout the southeastern United States.
A five-year review conducted by federal experts confirms that crocodile numbers have rebounded dramatically and their geographic distribution has grown. Today an estimated 1,400 to 2,000 crocs call Florida home—and that number does not include hatchlings.
The population growth, along with reduced land development and hunting threats, prompted the reclassification.
March 22, 2007 6:52 AM | Category: Animals