Comments on: Mystery Cayman Croc Captured

By: PhilinFL

PhilinFL — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 03:36:32 +0000

Bobcat, how’s about scanning in those photos of your grandfather w/the crocs in Cayman? Some good natural history there!

By: PhilinFL

PhilinFL — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 03:23:04 +0000

The American croc, C. acutus, is well-known to frequent salt-water as well as fresh. To quote a very authoritative source:

The American crocodile is the second most widely distributed of the New World crocodiles, ranging from the southern tip of Florida, both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, as well as the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola.

Jamaica is 180 miles from the Caimans, Cuba 150…Sounds like it cd have come from either one.

C. rhombifer is a very distinct croc, I doubt if they cd have mistaken one for C. acutus.

By: Rillo777

Rillo777 — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 05:36:48 +0000

Maybe it was just visiting on vacation..ha ha. oh, and did anyone check to see if it had any accounts at the bank? Could be a wanted criminal.

By: Trapster

Trapster — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 02:39:23 +0000

There is really no wilderness at all there, this is why someone evidently shot it with a speargun as soon as it made an appearance. The islands there are very busy with people.

Unless it was at very close range I doubt the spear did any notable damage to the animal.

I wouldn’t count this as an out of place animal as crocs in Cuba have been making a come back, and both species used to be found there before people removed them.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 15:48:57 +0000

Well it says they were “believed” to be hunted to extinction 200 years ago. Cryptozoology includes the study of animals previously thought to be extinct, so I’m suprised nobody has voiced the opinion that this just may be a remnant of that supposedly extinct population. Maybe they are not extinct in these islands after all? I am not familiar with that area of the world, but if there is ample remote wilderness is this not feasible?

By: shovethenos

shovethenos — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:39:40 +0000

Oops, missed the date on a quick reading.

By: Trapster

Trapster — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 04:42:16 +0000

Sounds like a swimmer from Cuba. Just taking off to spread his species back to old habitiat. “Fast and aggressive” are two words to perfectly describe the behavior of most Cuban crocs (crocodylus rombifer or something close), this is not just book info, I’ve dealt with it first hand, these guys have an attitude from day one. American crocodile (crocodylus acutus) on the other hand are typically shy and just want to quietly get away. The two species are easily differentiated, anyone have photos?

P.S. Not likely an escaped pet; Cuban or N. American crocs are worth big $$$ (and a lot of paperwork.)

By: Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:48:51 +0000

“Is this the first cryptid of the year – an out of place crocodile?”

As the article states, this crocodile, whatever species it may be, was captured on Dec. 30, 2006.

By: kamoeba

kamoeba — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 23:43:38 +0000

I guess they’ll have to change the name of the place to the “Caiman Islands”.

By: jayman

jayman — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 22:15:32 +0000

Other possibilties than American crocodile may be the Cuban crocodile or Morelet’s crocodile.