There are 26 recognised species of extant crocodilians, divided into three Families - Alligatoridae (8 species; alligators and caimans), Crocodylidae (16 species; “true” crocodiles) and Gavialidae (2 species; Gharial and Tomistoma). Two additional species (Crocodylus halli, Osteolaemus aftezelli) have yet to be formally recognised.
Class Reptilia |
| | Order Crocodilia |
| | Family Alligatoridae (alligators, caimans) |
| | American Alligator | Alligator mississippiensis |
| |
Chinese Alligator |
Alligator sinensis |
| |
Black Caiman |
Melanosuchus niger |
| |
Broad-snouted Caiman |
Caiman latirostris |
| |
Spectacled Caiman |
Caiman crocodilus |
| |
Yacare Caiman |
Caiman yacare |
| |
Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman |
Paleosuchus palpebrosus |
| |
Schneider’s Smooth-fronted Caiman |
Paleosuchus trigonatus |
| |
|
|
| | Family Crocodylidae ("true" crocodiles)
|
| |
West African Slender-snouted Crocodile |
Mecistops cataphractus
|
| |
Central African Slender-snouted Crocodile
|
Mecistops leptorhynchus *
|
| |
American Crocodile |
Crocodylus acutus |
| |
Australian Freshwater Crocodile |
Crocodylus johnstoni |
| |
Cuban Crocodile |
Crocodylus rhombifer |
| |
Dwarf Crocodile
|
Osteolaemus tetraspis
|
| |
Osborn's Dwarf Crocodile
|
Osteolaemus osborni
|
| |
Morelet’s Crocodile |
Crocodylus moreletii |
| |
Mugger Crocodile |
Crocodylus palustris |
| |
New Guinea Freshwater Crocodile |
Crocodylus novaeguineae |
| |
Nile Crocodile |
Crocodylus niloticus |
| |
West African Crocodile
|
Crocodylus suchus **
|
| |
Orinoco Crocodile |
Crocodylus intermedius |
| |
Philippine Crocodile |
Crocodylus mindorensis |
| |
Saltwater Crocodile |
Crocodylus porosus |
| |
Siamese Crocodile |
Crocodylus siamensis |
| |
|
|
| |
Family Gavialidae (Gharial and Tomistoma)
|
| |
Gharial |
Gavialis gangeticus |
| |
Tomistoma |
Tomistoma schlegelii |
* previously Mecistops cataphractus; ** previously Crocodylus niloticus
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