Australian Freshwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) Transport Their Hatchlings to the Water

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchira Somaweera ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Australian Freshwater

Morphometric analysis of the Australian freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni)

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn P. Edwards ◽  
Grahame J. Webb ◽  
S. Charlie Manolis ◽  
Alex Mazanov
Keyword(s):  
Morphometric Analysis ◽  
Body Measurements ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Allometric Growth ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Arnhem Land ◽  
Freshwater Crocodile ◽  
Crocodylus Porosus ◽  
Australian Freshwater

We conducted a morphometric analysis of 279 Crocodylus johnstoni, using specimens from the McKinlay River (n = 265) and Arnhem Land (n = 14), to meet the management need for predicting body size of C. johnstoni from isolated body parts. The results also allow reconstruction of C. johnstoni dimensions for comparison with other crocodilian species. We detected sexual dimorphism in some body measurements from the McKinlay River, and geographic variation in the morphology of McKinlay River and Arnhem Land populations, but differences were slight. There is pronounced allometric growth in C. johnstoni in the immediate post-hatching phase, largely due to elongation of the snout after exiting the confines of the egg. We compared the size, shape and relative growth of C. johnstoni with that of other crocodilian species for which equivalent data are available, but particularly the other Australian crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. C. porosus has a proportionately longer tail and a shorter but wider snout than C. johnstoni, and we discuss possible ecological correlates of these and other differences.

Movements and Home Ranges of Crocodylus johnstoni in the Lynd River, Queensland

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 379 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Tucker ◽  
C. J. Limpus ◽  
H. I. McCallum ◽  
K. R. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Field Trips ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Dominance Hierarchies ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Upstream Direction ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Australian Freshwater ◽  
Local Dominance

Movements of Australian freshwater crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstoni, were examined by a mark–recapture study spanning 20 years in the Lynd River, Queensland. After adjustment for detection bias, there was a minor upstream direction to movements. Seasonal changes of location were not evident from field trips taken only twice yearly. Annual movements averaged less than 1 km except for those of pubescent males, which appeared to be nomadic. Creche dispersal was randomly directed but associated with a threshold in mass/length ratio. On average, males were found further from previous capture sites than were females. Adults of both sexes moved shorter distances than did immature crocodiles with a clear reduction in movements occurring as mass/length ratios approached 0·17 kg per cm snout–vent length. Reduced movement at that general size ratio probably indicated the onset of territoriality associated with maturity. Females usually remained near breeding sites even in years when they did not breed. Nomadic tendencies of pubescent males are probably associated with unsuccessful attempts at entering local dominance hierarchies. Linear home ranges were estimated to be 1·5–1·9 km for immature animals, 1·2 km for pubescent females, 30·3 km for pubescent males, 0·6 km for mature females and 1·6 km for adult males.

Remote monitoring of crocodilians: implantation, attachment and release methods for transmitters and data-loggers

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig E. Franklin ◽  
Mark A. Read ◽  
Peter G. Kraft ◽  
Niko Liebsch ◽  
Steve R. Irwin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physiological Variables ◽  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Data Loggers ◽  
Archival Tags ◽  
Crocodylus Porosus ◽  
Electronic Tags ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Australian Freshwater ◽  
Term Management

Crocodilians are by their very nature difficult animals to study. However, research on wild animals is essential for the development of reliable long-term management. Here, we describe methods for the acquisition and monitoring of behavioural and physiological variables from free-ranging crocodilians through the use of archival tags (data-loggers) and via satellite, radio and acoustic telemetry. Specifically, the attachment or implantation of electronic tags is described and examples provided of the type of data that can be collected. Our research group has used a combination of approaches to monitor the movements, diving activity, body temperatures and heart rates of crocodilians, including studies on the Australian freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), the estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) and the caiman (Caiman latirostris). Each approach or method presents unique challenges and problems, chiefly as a consequence of differences in body morphology and size of the crocodilian species, their behaviours and the habitats they occupy.

Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. (Digenea, Cryptogonimidae) from the freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni, in Northern Territory, Australia

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasyl Tkach ◽  
Scott Snyder
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Anterior Testis ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Proportions ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Freshwater Crocodile ◽  
Australian Freshwater

AbstractProctocaecum blairi sp. nov. is described from specimens found in the intestine of an Australian freshwater crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni, from Northern Territory, Australia. The most important diagnostic features of the new species are the body proportions and size, the position of the pharynx (relative length of the prepharynx and oesophagus), the relative length and position of the vitelline fields, and the number, shape and size of the circumoral spines. The new species is morphologically most similar to Proctocaecum atae, P. elongatum, P. crocodili, P. gairhei and Acanthostomum slusarskii. It differs from all of these species in having a much longer prepharynx, and differs from both P. atae and P. crocodili in having a much longer body and posteriorly situated vitelline fields. Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. differs from P. elongatum in having a shorter body, a greater forebody to hindbody ratio, a much smaller ventral sucker, and a higher number of circumoral spines (23 vs 21 in P. elongatum). The new species differs from P. gairhei in possessing a much larger body length:width ratio and an ovary separated from the anterior testis by a seminal receptacle. Acanthostomum slusarskii lacks a gonotyl and has fewer circumoral spines than the new species. Proctocaecum blairi sp. nov. is the third species of Proctocaecum and the fourth cryptogonimid species known from crocodiles in Australia.

Validation of skeletochronology to determine age of freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni)

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton D. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Age Estimation ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Interference Microscopy ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Size Estimation ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Old Adult ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Australian Freshwater

Age was estimated for wild Australian freshwater crocodiles from skeletochronology of growth marks in postoccipital osteoderms. Growth marks were distinct and counted reliably in unstained calcified thin sections (60–80 µm) viewed by Nomarski interference microscopy. The periodicity of growth marks was validated directly from crocodiles of known age (up to 19 years) and from individuals sampled sequentially in different seasons. Growth marks comprised annuli deposited in winter and zones deposited in summer. Errors in age estimation for small crocodiles resulted from difficulty in assigning the growing edge as either a zone or an annulus. No osseous remodelling was noted for immature animals. Age estimates for adult females became unreliable as previous annuli were obscured by osseous remodelling, presumably resulting from calcium mobilization by egg-laying females. Old adult males continued to deposit annuli, but these were more difficult to distinguish, being more closely spaced than in young crocodiles. Skeletochronology permitted reliable (coefficient of variation, 3·4%) and accurate (±1 year) age estimation up to about 20 years. Osteoderm dimensions were strongly correlated with average snout–vent length, mass and age and have acceptable potential as an indirect means of age and size estimation for Crocodylus johnstoni.

Genetic structure and diversity of Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) from the Kimberley, Western Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-429
Author(s):  
Rui Cao ◽  
Ruchira Somaweera ◽  
Katherine Brittain ◽  
Nancy N. FitzSimmons ◽  
Arthur Georges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Crocodylus Johnstoni ◽  
Genetic Structure And Diversity ◽  
Australian Freshwater
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