Observations on nests of Crocodylus moreletii in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Nesting ecology of Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) has been documented since 1940. However, only 2 nests constructed on floating vegetation have been recorded. Here, we presented additional information from a mainland population of C. moreletii in the Ciénega de Cabezas wetland, San...
| Autores: | , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2011 |
| País: | México |
| Institución: | Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco |
| Repositorio: | Redalyc-UJAT |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:redalyc.org:42520745032 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=42520745032 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Biología nesting ecology Ciénega de Cabezas Morelet's crocodile reproductive ecology |
| Sumario: | Nesting ecology of Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) has been documented since 1940. However, only 2 nests constructed on floating vegetation have been recorded. Here, we presented additional information from a mainland population of C. moreletii in the Ciénega de Cabezas wetland, San Luis Potosí, describing 2 nests constructed on floating mats of cattails. The nests were constructed using Typha sp., close to the main channel. One nest was lost due to flooding, and contained 32 eggs. Seven eggs had a mean 72.6 ± 2.63 mm length (range = 70.0 -75.0 mm), 45.0 ± 2.30 mm width (range = 41.0-48.0 mm), and 140.7 ± 2.98 mm diameter (range = 136.0-145.0 mm). We suggest that the use of floating vegetation for nesting by C. moreletii is related to the availability of aquatic vegetation, combined with the lack of adequate nesting sites on land. |
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