Abstract
Some behavioural and ecological aspects were observed in a remaining population of Crocodylus intermedius found in a colombian region called Arauca, in the rivers Cravo Norte, Ele, Lipa, Casanare and caño Matepalma. The behaviours during the daily activity were different among the adult animals studied. These surveys were carried out during the dry season in 1994 and 1995. Behaviours of nesting period took place from late December in 1994 to mid January in 1995. The crocodilian eggs hatched from mid March to the beginning of April. According to the data collected, the clutch size for this region is 20 to 34 eggs. Seven zones of clutching were found. Big holes, observed after the hatchings, suggest that maybe the female crocodiles open the nest when the young are ernerging from the eggs. The group of animals found is placed in a zone which has optima biotic and abiotic aspects. However the inhabitants of this region are an enormous pressure factor upon Crocodylus intermedius.
References
Ayarzagüena, J. 1983. Ecología del caimán de anteojos o baba (Caiman crocodilus L.) en los llanos de Apure (Venezuela). Acta Vertebrata:Estación Biológica de Doñana. 10(3): 136 p.
Lang, J. W. 1987. Crocodilians Thermal Selection. Pp. 301-317 In G. J. W. Webb, S. C. Manolis, and P. J. Whitehead. Wildlife Management: Crocodiles and Alligators. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Ltda., Chipping Norton, Australia.
Lehner, P. 1979. Handbook of ethological methods. Garland STPM Press. New York. US. 403 p.
Lugo, L.M. 1995. Cria del caimán del Orinoco (Crocodylus inter- medius) en la Estación de Biologia Tropical "Roberto Franco". Villavicencio, Meta. Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Exa. 19 (4):601-606
Medem, F. 1981. Los Crocodylia de Sur América, Vol. I. Los Crocodylia de Colombia. COLCIENCIAS. pp. 354. Tab. 16. Map. 4. Fig. 138. Bogotá, Colombia.
Medem, F.1983. Los Crocodylia de Sur América, Vol. II. COLCIENCIAS. pp. 270. Tab. 8. Map. 13. Fig. 71. Bogotá, Colombia.
Thorbjarnarson, J. B. 1987. Status, ecology and conservation of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) in Venezuela. Report to WWF. 74 p.
Thorbjarnarson, J. B. 1988. The status and ecology of the American crocodile in Haiti. Bull. Florida, State Mus., Biol. Sci. 33(1):1-86
Thorbjarnarson, J. B & H. 1993a. Reproductive ecology of he Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) in Venezuela. I. Nesting ecology and egg an clutch relationships. Journal of Herpetology. 27(4):363-370.
Thorbjarnarson, J. B & H. 1993b. Reproductive ecology of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) in Venezuela. II. Reproductive and social behavior. Journal of Herpetology, 27 (4) 371-379.
![Creative Commons License](http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/4.0/88x31.png)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2024 Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales