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Scientific Name of Crocodile is Crocodilia (order). Crocodiles are semi-marine predators which can be found in the tropics, mostly in Asia, Africa, America and Australia. If considered from a biological aspect, the term “crocodiles” only includes members from the family Crocodylidae. Crocodiles are often confused with Alligators. However, Alligators belong to a different family, Alligatoridae.
Key Terms: Phylum, Kingdom, Alligatoridae, Crocodilia, Crocodylidae, True Crocodiles
Scientific Name of Crocodile
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The scientific name of crocodile is Crocodilia (order). Crocodiles are large, smi-aquatic reptiles. Typically, crocodiles can be found in the tropics, including Africa, Asia, America and Australia.
Crocodile
The family “Crocodylidae”, which is also called “True Crocodiles”, has 3 genera and 14 species. Nile crocodiles and Saltwater crocodiles are the largest representatives of this family. . Crocodiles generally have plate-like scales on their skin and are typically brown, dark-olive or greyish-black in color. The most well-known crocodile, today, falls under the genus Crocodylus.
Scientific Classification of Crocodile
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Crocodiles can be classified as:
| Type | Parameters |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Crocodilia |
| Family | Crocodylidae |
| Genus | Crocodylus |
Characteristics of Crocodile
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There are several characteristics of Crocodiles. Some of them are:
- The lifespan of a Crocodile is about 20 to 70 years.
- Crocodiles are generally nocturnal animals.
- Crocodiles have their eyes and nostrils located on the top of their head and snout.
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Species of Crocodiles
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There are several species of crocodiles. They are:
| Species | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Cuban crocodile | Crocodylus rhombifer |
| Borneo crocodile | Crocodylus raninus |
| American crocodile | Crocodylus acutus |
| Freshwater crocodile | Crocodylus johnsoni |
| New Guinea crocodile | Crocodylus novaeguineae |
| Indian crocodile | Crocodylus palustris |
| Siamese crocodile | Crocodylus siamensis |
| Nile crocodile | Crocodylus niloticus |
| Saltwater crocodile | Crocodylus porosus |
| Orinoco crocodile | Crocodylus intermedius |
| Philippine crocodile | Crocodylus mindorensis |
| Mexican crocodile | Crocodylus moreletii |
| Hall’s New Guinea crocodile | Crocodylus halli |
| West African crocodile | Crocodylus suchus |
Things to Remember
- The scientific name of Crocodile is Crocodilia (order).
- Crocodiles are known as semi-marine predators vastly found in the tropics, mostly in Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
- There are numerous species of Crocodiles, including the Cuban crocodile, American Crocodile, Saltwater crocodile and more.
Previous Year Questions
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Sample Questions
Ques. What is the scientific name of Crocodile? [1 mark]
Ans. The scientific name of Crocodile is Crocodilia (order).
Ques. What class does Crocodile belong to? [1 mark]
Ans. Reptilia is the class crocodiles belong to.
Ques. What is the scientific name of the Mexican Crocodile? [1 mark]
Ans. Crocodylus moreletii is the name of the Mexican Crocodile.
Ques. What is the average lifespan of Crocodiles? [1 mark]
Ans. Crocodiles can live up to 20 to 70 years.
Ques. What family does the True Crocodile belong to? [1 mark]
Ans. The family “Crocodylidae”, also referred to as “True Crocodiles”, has 3 genera and 14 species.
Ques. What is the scientific name of the Nile Crocodile? [1 mark]
Ans. The scientific name of the Nile Crocodile is Crocodylus niloticus.
Ques. Write a brief note on Crocodiles. [2 marks]
Ans. Crocodiles are carnivorous aquatic reptiles. Simply, they are semi-marine predators that can be found in the tropics, mostly in the areas of Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
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