Crocodilian ID (dead)

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Dan F

Dan F

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Dec 10, 2007
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Oregon
A student of mine donated this as part of my collection of dead animals (I'm an elementary school science teacher). Her mom had no idea where it came from, apparently the student's grandfather was a commercial pilot before the days of import restrictions/regulation.

Can anyone tell me the species? Any identifying features I should look for?


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Wiggles92 said:
This is purely an educated guess, but it looks like a Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) to me.
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Funny, that was what one of my students was pretty convinced it was. I haven't had time to research it at all, I thought I'd let MFK's herp-heads do the grunt work for me. :popcorn:

wrslrcichlid said:
No idea on an ID, but that is REALLY COOL!!!! I am studying to be a high school biology teacher and would love something like that - awesome donation.
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I was really stoked, I had to show it off around the school. The funny thing is nobody was one bit surprised...
 
Dan F said:
Funny, that was what one of my students was pretty convinced it was. I haven't had time to research it at all, I thought I'd let MFK's herp-heads do the grunt work for me. :popcorn:
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I can definitely say that it's a crocodile rather than an alligator; the jaws seem way off for an alligator. I'm going through the CITES Crocodilian ID Guide now, so I should have a more definite answer for you soon.
 
Hurry up ryan. Sitting on mf tri waiting.....

On subject, useing my small phone screen, id say mugger but hard to tell. Nile is a strong possibility giving the novelty. Any idea where he traveled at all? Quite jealous btw.

I have a "mummified" baby alligator somewhere. Two gator heads too
 
Okay, I have good reason to believe that it's either a Nile crocodile or a swamp crocodile (mugger crocodile). However, I encourage you to go through the guide to double check it; it was a little tough to do some of the scale counts and such.

CITES Identification Guide - Crocodilians: Enter "70" into the page count thing for Adobe to jump directly to the guide.
 
Wiggles92 said:
Okay, I have good reason to believe that it's either a Nile crocodile or a swamp crocodile (mugger crocodile). However, I encourage you to go through the guide to double check it; it was a little tough to do some of the scale counts and such.

CITES Identification Guide - Crocodilians: Enter "70" into the page count thing for Adobe to jump directly to the guide.
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Wow, great resource. I went through the dichotomous key for heads and came to exactly the same conclusion - C. niloticus or C. palustris. Now I just have to figure out which...

Thank you very much, great link you provided! :headbang2
 
Lepisosteus platyrhincus said:
Hurry up ryan. Sitting on mf tri waiting.....

On subject, useing my small phone screen, id say mugger but hard to tell. Nile is a strong possibility giving the novelty. Any idea where he traveled at all? Quite jealous btw.

I have a "mummified" baby alligator somewhere. Two gator heads too
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One or the other - how do I tell the difference?

He traveled all over from what i can tell. They have a Kangaroo pelt they might donate as well, and his (Pilot Grampa's) widow burned a bunch of human skulls (who knows where?) and shrunken heads (South America). I'm very curious to see what other dusty old items they have in the barn...
 
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