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 Luis...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Armando H. Escobedo-Galván, Gustavo Casas-Andreu, Gabriel Barrios-Quiroz, Víctor H. Sustaita-Rodríguez, Marco A. López-Luna
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2011-03-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
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Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/440
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1870-3453
2007-8706