Also, one of the largest known populations is in Lago Enriquillo, a landlocked hypersaline lake situated 40m below sea level in the arid southwestern Dominican Republic. Crocodylus acutus is one of the most adaptable crocodilians in terms of nesting ecology. Throughout most of its range the American crocodile is a hole-nesting species. The American crocodile is found in 17 countries in the northern Neotropics. This species produces a commercially valuable hide and the principal reason for past declines in population size can be attributed to the extensive commercial overexploitation that occurred from the 1930s into the 1960s.
Current threats are habitat destruction and in some areas continued hunting.
The collection of adult breeders to stock farms could become a serious problem in some countries if not closely regulated by the appropriate management authorities. At present, the overall quality of survey data is poor. No recent surveys are available from El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Some populations in Sinaloa, Yucatan and Veracruz are reported to be greatly depleted or eliminated. A private program to maintain a captive breeding stock for conservation purposes is underway.