Reptiles
Morelet's Crocodile
Crocodylus moreletii · also called Belize crocodile
In a Belizean lagoon fringed with mangroves, Morelet’s crocodile glides through the water, its broad snout just above the surface.
Overview
Morelet’s crocodile, Crocodylus moreletii, is a Least Concern freshwater crocodile of swamps, lagoons, rivers, and lakes in eastern Mexico, Belize, and northern Guatemala. Its recovery from heavy hunting makes it one of the clearest crocodile conservation successes in Central America.
A species that bounced back
After decades of protection, Morelet’s crocodile has returned to many of the wetlands where it was once almost wiped out.
Status
Least Concern, with an increasing population.
Morelet's Crocodile: common questions
Is Morelet's crocodile endangered?
No, it was hunted heavily for its skin in the twentieth century, but has recovered under protection and is now Least Concern.
Where does Morelet's crocodile live?
It lives in swamps, lagoons, rivers, and lakes in eastern Mexico, Belize, and northern Guatemala.
How big does it grow?
It grows to around 3 metres long, making it a mid-sized crocodile.
Why is it named Morelet's crocodile?
It is named after the French naturalist Pierre Marie Arthur Morelet, who described it in the nineteenth century.