Not many Cambodian people know that there are only 2 crocodile species in Cambodia, we only know that there are crocodiles. Recently, we have very exciting news after 60 Siamese crocodile eggs were found. Because they are extinct in many parts of the world, this comeback is such a great thing to know. And here I am, telling you a bit more about crocodile species in Cambodia below.
Saltwater Crocodile (ក្រពើទឹកប្រៃ/ក្រពើភ្លើង)
Scientific Name: Crocodylus Porosus
Here we are looking at the largest living reptiles that can reach the length of 6 meters including the tail. This is the size of the males, females are smaller which is around half the size of a male on average. One of the unique features of this crocodile species is the broad body that is broader than any other crocodile. They also have a very large head and a pair of ridges running from the eyes along the center of the snout. Adult saltwater crocodiles are darker greenish with a few lighter tan or gray areas while some are darker they appear blackish. And that bumpy skin texture is extremely intimidating to look at, and we should all be intimidated. Both sexes have large and sharp teeth, giving them the strongest bite of any living animal.
This crocodile species has a very distribution across East Asia and Southeast Asia all the way to Australia and Micronesia. These crocodiles inhabit brackish wetlands, mangrove swamps, and saltwater habitats as well as freshwater rivers and river deltas. Their long-distance swimming ability allows them to travel to various parts of the world. This is the part that makes them dangerous because they are everywhere in both fresh and salt waters. Saltwater crocodiles are considered extremely aggressive, and they fiercely compete with each other for territory or aggressively attack anything in their territories. If threat calls such as coughing or hissing sounds don’t work on invaders, they will attack. Despite being apex predators, they still cannot escape the doom of human’s illegal hunting for their skin, egg collection, and habitat loss. The good thing is their population is still doing well and they are classified as Least Concern.
Siamese Crocodile (ក្រពើភ្នំ/ក្រពើត្រី/ក្រពើទន្លេ)
Scientific Name: Crocodylus Siamensis
Goes by various names such as mountain crocodile, fish crocodile, or river crocodile, the Siamese crocodile looks absolutely different from the saltwater crocodile. A mountain crocodile is a medium-sized freshwater reptile that reaches a length of 2.1 to 3 meters. It has a broad and smooth snout along with an elevated bony crest behind each eye. Adults are usually olive-green but dark green individuals are also common. Despite the large size, they rarely attack humans and they just run away if we get close to them.
Mountain crocodiles are native to various parts of Southeast Asia including Brunei, Cambodia, East Malaysia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. They occur in a wide range of freshwater habitats across these countries such as lakes, marshes, seasonal oxbow lakes, slow-moving rivers and streams, and swamps. In Cambodia, they are found in the Cardamom Mountains and over 30 other sites. Mountain crocodiles feed mainly on fish and snakes as well as amphibians and small mammals in their habitats.
This crocodile species is extinct from 99% of its range, making it one of the world’s most endangered reptiles. The causes are due to commercial hunting, habitat degradation, habitat loss, human disturbance, and poaching. According to WWF Cambodia, the Mekong River basin and wetlands in Cambodia appear to hold the only remaining wild populations. Fauna & Flora has been working with the Cambodian government’s forestry department and local communities regarding the conservation of this crocodile species. Some communities in the Cardamom Mountains consider Siamese crocodiles to be sacred and have protected them for generations. The estimated population is around 400 individuals, a majority of which are in Cambodia.
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