Page 316 - Central America
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Costa Rica and its Saltwater Crocs: Deadly Danger
T he American crocodile is the most widespread of the four spe- largely of coastal areas. It is also found in river systems but has a
cies of crocodiles from the Americas. Populations occur from tendency to prefer some level of salinity, not just tolerance, result-
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico to South Amer- ing in the species congregating in brackish lakes, coastal swamps,
ica as far as Peru and Venezuela. It also lives within many of the lagoons, even cays and small islands. The American crocodile is
Caribbean islands. Within the United States, the American croco- one of the larger crocodile species.
dile’s distribution is limited to both Puerto Rico and the southern
half of Florida. The habitat of the American crocodile consists
