Cuban crocodile | 台北市立動物園資訊網

CubancrocodilesareoneofthemostendangeredspeciesofcrocodileandarefoundonlyinCuba.Thesesmallcrocodilesarestrongswimmers.Theywalkand​ ...

Cuban crocodiles have short, broad heads with a bony ridge behind the eyes. They are green and olive black with yellow speckles and darker coloration toward the top of their bodies. Their bellies are pale, and their tails have black blotches or bands.

Large osteoderms, or bony plates, form the dorsal shield along the Cuban crocodiles back and extend onto the back of its neck. The scales on its legs are large, and those on its back legs are heavily keeled, meaning the scales have a raised ridge down the center.

These crocodiles are strong swimmers and are adept at walking and leaping, which makes them equally at home in water or on land. They cannot generate heat metabolically, so they soak up heat from the sun or warm water to control their temperature. They will often do this in the morning when they are cold and groggy, or after a meal to help raise their metabolism. ...