Borealosuchus (SciiFii)

The northern crocodile (Borealosuchus temperatus, name meaning "temperate boreal crocodile") is a species of crocodyliform, being a basal eusuchian and not a true crocodilian, despite its name, that originally lived from the Late Cretaceous to the Eocene in North America as an extinct species of Borealosuchus and the genus itself was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and introduced throughout the modern tropical, subtropical, temperate, and boreal rainforests, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and riverbanks across North America to help boost biodiversity. The northern crocodilian is a mid-sized crocodyliform; reaching the average length of up to 2.8 metres (9.2 feet) long and weighing about 58 kilograms (128 lbs). Its colors are dark gray for most of the body, black stripes, and a white underbelly for camouflage in its natural habitats. The northern crocodile walk slowly on land, but swim very fast in water. The northern crocodile is a carnivore and it strikes very fast when the prey comes too close, and the northern crocodile will clap its jaws and attempt to bite in a ferocious attack. Unlike many crocodyliforms, the northern crocodiles do not display sexual dimorphism and both sexes are similar in size. The northern crocodile uses nine different vocalizations and 13 visual displays to communicate with individuals of its species. Both adults and young produce calls for group cohesion. Males are known to communicate by moving their tail to a certain position, such as making it vertical or arched. Juveniles vocalize when in distress and adult females emit calls to warn young of threats. The northern crocodile reaches sexual maturity from four to seven years old, at a length of 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) for females and 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) for males. Usually, the more dominant individuals mature more quickly. Specimens choose mates and engage in copulation from late March to early June. The females build nests as a mound of dense vegetation, in areas that are close to water but not at risk of being flooded. The nests are over 1 metre (3.3 feet) in diameter and can be 40 centimetres (16 inches) high, but the exact size depends on the resources available. Eggs are laid in May and July; the species very rarely nests in the winter, as the temperature is too low for the eggs. Clutch size is 22 on average, but can range from 14 to 40. Larger females have been known to lay larger eggs compared to smaller females. Females stay close to their nests during the incubation period, as several species, such as native tegu lizards and invasive monitor lizards, have been known to destroy nests and prey on the eggs. North American coatis, raccoons, foxes, and several adapiform primates and monkeys also raid nests. Flooding and human egg collecting can also be a threat to the nests. Temperature is important to the developing eggs, so females build their nests in a way that insulates them from extreme temperature changes. As the vegetation in the nests decays, the nests produce heat which can keep the eggs about 5 °C (9 °F) warmer than if they were insulated by mud alone. Heat not only incubates the eggs, but also determines the sex of the developing caimans (temperature-dependent sex determination). When the temperature inside the nest is about 38 °C (100 °F) or higher, the northern crocodiles become female, and otherwise become male. Young hatch after 90 days, with 20–25 percent of eggs hatching successfully. They are yellow with black spots, a coloration which fades away as they grow older, with a length of 20–23 centimetres (7.9–9.1 in). Parents raise their young in crèches, with one female taking care of her own, as well as several others' offspring. They take care of their young for 12–18 months. Young are threatened by various predators, such as raptors (like hawks) and wader birds (like herons), causing most to die in their first year. These juveniles are also preyed upon by large fish, large snakes (such as anacondas), and other crocodyliforms. The average northern crocodile lives to about age of 50 years. The conservation status of the northern crocodile is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the northern crocodile's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii