Philippine crocodile

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iPhilippine Crocodile

Conservation status: Critical

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sauropsida
Order:	Crocodilia
Family:	Crocodylidae
Genus:	Crocodylus
Species:	C. mindorensis

Binomial name

Crocodylus mindorensis
Schmidt, 1935

The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is a crocodile found only in the Philippines. It is also known as the Mindoro crocodile and the Philippine freshwater crocodile. In the Philippines, it is strictly prohibited to kill a crocodile, but its status is critically threatened from exploitation and unsustainable fishing methods, such as dynamite fishing. Conservation methods are being taken by the Dutch/Filipino Mabuwaya foundation.

Once considered a subspecies of the New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae), the Philippine crocodile is only found on the islands of the Philippines. The Philippine crocodile does not grow as large as some of the saltwater crocodiles that are indigenous to the same area. This species of crocodile is one of the most severely threatened species around. There are no more than 500-1,000 members of this species living outside of captivity. Compared to other crocodiles, the Philippine Crocodile has a relatively broader snout. Philippine crocodiles are relatively small, growing no more than 3 meters. Females are slightly smaller than males. The species is considered unagressive, but will bite when harassed or trodden on.

Although Philippine crocodiles, like all other crocodiles, are formidable predators, taking large prey as antelopes, they allow crocodile birds to scavenge among their teeth. Smaller specimens feed on fish, shrimp, rats, and water snails.

This crocodile was featured in National Geographic's Dangerous Encounters hosted by crocodile specialist Dr. Brady Barr. In one of the episodes, Barr was seeking to be the first person to see all species of crocodile in the world, with the Philippine crocodile as the most difficult. Fortunately, he was able to see a Philippine crocodile only about two weeks old. Philippine crocodiles are goldish brown in color, while it grows darker as it matures.