Crocodylus acutus: Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?pid=S0034-77442012000400035&script=sci_arttext
Laurie A. Mauger^1*,6*, Elizabeth Velez^2*, Michael S. Cherkiss^3*, Matthew L. Brien^4*, Michael Boston^5*, Frank J. Mazzotti³  & James R. Spotila⁶

 Crocodilians  are  keystone  species  that play an important role in biodiversity and maintenance  of  ecosystems  (Mazzotti  et  al. 2009, Thorbjarnarson 2010). Effective management plans are critical to continued existence  of  crocodile  populations  and  should consider factors influencing a population, such as nesting and nursery habitat, feeding grounds, population structure and distribution and salinity levels (Kushlan 1988). Limited data on the population biology of many crocodilian species makes it crucial to gain a better understanding of connections between different populations. The American crocodile, Crocodylus acutus (Cuvier 1807), is the most widely distributed of the New World crocodilians (Thorbjarnarson 2010). This species ranges from the extreme Southern tip of Florida, throughout the Caribbean and along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Central and Northern South America (Thorbjarnarson et al. 2006, Thorbjarnarson 2010). Crocodylus acutus is considered a coastal species, inhabiting lagoons and estuaries, areas with lower salinities and can also be found inland along major rivers and land-locked lakes (Kushlan & Mazzotti 1989a, Platt & Thorbjarnarson 2000, Thorbjarnarson et al. 2006, Mazzotti et al. 2009, Cherkiss et al. 2011). Crocodylus acutus can also be found in marine habitats (full-strength sea water) along offshore islands and atolls (Platt & Thorjarnarson 2000).