Range: Found in 17 countries from the Southern tip of Florida to northern South America, including all Central American countries. May be expatriated from several Central American countries. 

Habitat: Salt Water estuaries, fresh water inlets.

Size: To 20 Feet, Largest Crocodilian in the United States.  Males average 12-14 feet, females average 7-11 feet.  Weight in excess of 1,500 pounds for large adult male American Crocodiles.

Status: Not fully understood, wide geographical range presents many challenges to obtaining an accurate estimate of remaining animals.  It is believed the population is declining in virtually all of the American Crocodiles natural range.

RainForest Facts: Highly prized for it's leather the American Crocodile faced extreme pressure from over collection of it's skin during the middle of the 20th century.  The advent of the power boat added significantly due the decline as more efficient means of hunting and gathering of the crocodiles for the skin developed from approximately 1920-1960.   Today many factors continue to put pressure on the wild populations of the American Crocodile, from the construction of hydroelectric dams to deforestation the future for this crocodile is uncertain. 

The vast majority of countries where the American Crocodile lives have implemented conservation programs, isolated populations remain very strong in certain areas.  Farming and controlled commercial exploitation remain a viable option to help preserve the remaining numbers of the American Crocodile.   Reintroduction programs also have some promise of establishing wild populations.

Female American Crocodiles build a wide variety of nests largely dependant upon their geographical location.  Some female American Crocodiles will excavate a sand nest while others have been observed building mound nests from available vegetation.  This species appears not to defend it's nest quite as vigorously as other crocodilians.   Nest sizes have been noted to average 20-25 eggs with 75-80 days as an average incubation.

A highly nocturnal hunter, the American Crocodile feeds on a wide variety of vertebrates including fish and birds.   As the adult American Crocodile increases in size the food types will change to include larger vertebrate.  Birds appear to be a favorite food item for mid-sized American Crocodiles.