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{{Unreferenced|date=February 2007}} | |||
{{Taxobox | |||
| color = pink | |||
| name = Crocodiles | |||
| fossil_range = ] - Recent | |||
| image = NileCrocodile.jpg | |||
| image_caption = ] | |||
| regnum = ]ia | |||
| phylum = ] | |||
| classis = ] | |||
| unranked_classis = ] | |||
| ordo = ] | |||
| familia = '''Crocodylidae''' | |||
| familia_authority = ], ] | |||
| subdivision_ranks = Genera | |||
| subdivision = | |||
* ''] | |||
* '']'' | |||
* '']'' | |||
'''See ].''' | |||
}} | |||
A '''crocodile''' is any ] belonging to the ] '''Crocodylidae''' (sometimes classified instead as the ] '''Crocodylinae'''). The term can also be used more loosely to include all members of the ] ]: i.e. the true crocodiles, the ]s and ]s (family ]) and the ]s (family ]), or even the ] which includes prehistoric crocodile relatives and ancestors. Crocodiles are large aquatic ]s that live throughout the ] in ], ], the ] and ]. Crocodiles tend to congregate in freshwater habitats like ]s, ]s, ]s and sometimes in ] water. Some species, notably the ] of Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands often live along the ] areas. It is also known to venture far out to sea. They mostly feed on ]s like ], ]s, and ]s, sometimes with ]s like ]s and ]s, depending on species. They are an ancient lineage, and are believed to have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs. | |||
==Description== | |||
'''Gay pornography''' is the representation of male bodies, and sometimes sexual activity among males, with the primary goal of ] in its audience. There is also a tradition, and continuing considerable output, of ]. However, the term ''gay pornography'' is rarely intended to encompass this. | |||
] | |||
Crocodiles are the most advanced of all reptiles despite their prehistoric look. Unlike other reptiles they have a four-chambered ], ] and ]. Their external morphology on the other hand is a sign of their aquatic and predatory lifestyle. A crocodile’s physical traits allow it to be a successful ]. They have a streamlined body that enables them to swim faster. They also tuck their feet to their sides while swimming, which makes the animal even faster, by decreasing the water resistance. They have webbed feet which, although not used to propel the animal through the water, allow it to make fast turns and sudden moves in the water or initiate swimming. Webbed feet are an advantage in shallower water where the animals sometimes move around by walking. | |||
Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water. They have extremely powerful jaws capable of biting down with 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, and sharp teeth for tearing flesh, but cannot open their mouth if it is held closed. There are stories of people escaping from the long-snouted ] by holding its jaws shut. ] will often subdue crocodiles for study or transport by ] their jaws or holding their jaws shut with large ]s cut from automobile ]s. All large crocodiles also have sharp and powerful claws. They have limited lateral movement in their neck, so on land protection can be found by getting even a small tree between the crocodile's jaws and oneself. | |||
Although ] has usually represented the ] orientation of the dominant culture, gay explicit material has a long history, reaching back to ], if not to prehistory. Practically every ] has been used to represent all-male sexual acts. Nowadays, however, the gay porn industry is mostly concentrated in the making of ]s and ]s, as well as images (still and moving) for viewing on the ]. Gay porn constitutes a disproportionately large part of the pornography industry.<ref>It is estimated that one-third to one-half of the $2.5 billion adult industry is gay sales and rentals. Mickey Skee. 1997. "Tricks of the Trade." ''Frontiers'' 16 (August 22):43.</ref> It has also attracted much less attention from the ] than has its straight counterpart. {{Fact|date=January 2007}} | |||
== |
===Age=== | ||
There is no reliable way of measuring crocodile age, although several techniques could be used to derive a reasonable guess. The most common method is to measure lamellar growth rings in bones and teeth - each ring corresponds to a change in growth rate which typically occurs once a year between dry and wet seasons.<ref>Britton, Adam. . Retrieved 9/11/2006.</ref> Bearing these inaccuracies in mind, the oldest crocodilians appear to be the largest species. C. porosus is estimated to live around 70 years on average, and there is limited evidence that some individuals may exceed 100 years. One of the oldest crocodiles recorded died in a zoo in Russia apparently aged 115 years old.<ref>Britton, Adam. . Retrieved 9/11/2006.</ref> | |||
=== Early modern gay pornography in the United States === | |||
] | |||
A male freshwater crocodile at the ] is estimated to be 130 years old. He was rescued from the wild by ] and ] after being shot twice by hunters. As a result of the shootings, this crocodile (known affectionately as "Mr. Freshy") has lost his right eye.<ref>, accessed ] ]</ref> | |||
] has been present in photography and film since their invention. During much of that time, any kind of sexual depiction had to remain ] because of ] rules. In particular, gay material might constitute evidence of an illegal act under ] in many jurisdictions. (This is no longer the case in the United States since such laws were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2003 in ].) | |||
===Size=== | |||
These restrictions meant that early gay porn primarily consisted of pictures of individual men either fully naked or wearing a ]. Pornography in the 1940s and 1950s focused on athletic men or ] in statuesque poses. They were generally young, muscular, and with little or no visible body hair. Those pictures were sold in physique magazines, also known as ], allowing the reader to pass as a fitness enthusiast. Since most gay men of this time were deeply ], actual depictions of sexual activity were rare. Although now considered quite tame or soft-core, this type of pornography still exists today. | |||
] | |||
The ] (AMG) founded by photographer ] in ] in ], ], was arguably the first studio to commercially produce material specifically for gay men. Mizer produced about a million images, and thousands of films and videos before he died on 12 May 1992. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the advent of ] cameras enabled these photographers to produce underground movies of gay sex. Sales of these products were either by mail-order or through more discreet channels. Some of the early gay pornographers would travel around the country selling their photographs and films out of their hotel rooms, with advertising only through word of mouth. | |||
Size greatly varies between species, from the ] to the enormous ]. Large species can reach over 5 or 6 meters long and weigh well over 1200 kg. Despite their large adult size, crocodiles start their life at around 20 cm long. The largest species of crocodile is the Saltwater Crocodile, found in northern Australia and throughout ]. According to some scientists,{{who}} there are no truly reliable records of any non-prehistoric crocodiles over 8.64 m. | |||
The 1960s were also a period where many underground art film makers integrated suggestive or overtly gay content in their work. ]'s '']'' (1963), ]'s '']'' (1965), or ]'s '']'' (1968) are examples of ]s that are known to have influenced further gay pornographic films with their formal qualities and narratives. ] is probably the most noted actor and model of the period; he appeared in Warhol's and Morrissey's films, as well as in Mizer's work at the AMG. | |||
In the town of ], Australia, there is an 8.63 meter fibreglass mould of a crocodile called "Krys the Croc.," shot in 1958 by Krystina Pawloski, who found the animal on a sandbank on the Norman River.<ref> AAP. . ''The Age'' Melbourne, 24 September 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2007.</ref> | |||
=== The sexual revolution === | |||
The other two larger certifiable records of complete crocodile are both of 6.2 m crocodiles. The first crocodile was shot in the Mary River in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1974 by poachers and measured by wildlife rangers. The second crocodile was killed in 1983 in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea. In this latter crocodile it was actually the skin that was measured by zoologist Jerome Montague, and as skins are known to underestimate the size of the actual animal, it is possible this crocodile was at least another 10 cm longer. | |||
During the 1960s, a series of ] rulings created a more liberalized legal environment that allowed the commercialization of pornography. ]'s '']'', starring ], can be considered the first gay porn feature film. It opened in a theater in ] in December 1971 and rapidly grossed an large profit, preceding '']'', the first commercial straight porn film in America, which opened in June 1972. This success launched gay pornographic film as a popular phenomenon. | |||
] | |||
] | |||
The largest crocodile ever held in captivity is an Estuarine/Siamese hybrid named Yai (]: ใหญ่, meaning ''big'') (born ], 1972) at the famous ], Thailand. This animal measured 6 m in length and weighs 1,114.27 kg. | |||
The production of gay porn films expanded during the 1970s. A few studios released films for the growing number of gay ]s, where men could also have sexual encounters. Often, the films reflected the sexual liberation that gay men were experiencing at the time, depicting the numerous public spaces where men engaged in sex: ], ]s, beaches, etc. Most of the productions used a ] of muscular and hairy men, which would become a hallmark of the gay erotic aesthetic of the decade. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} | |||
Another huge captive crocodile was a saltie named ]. Gomek was captured by George Craig in Papua New Guinea and sold to St. Augustine Alligator Farm in Florida. Gomek died of heart disease in February 1997. By this stage, he was a very old crocodile. When he died, he was 5.5 m long - as confirmed by St. Augustine Alligator Farm - and probably between 70 and 80 years old. | |||
The 1970s also saw the rise of gay publishing. During this time many magazines were founded, including ''In Touch'', '']'', and '']'', which, while ostensibly produced for women, were purchased and enjoyed by gay men. | |||
On ], ], a 7.1 m giant saltwater crocodile in ], India was crowned the world's largest living crocodile. It lives in ] and in June 2006, was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.<ref> {{Cite news|url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-06-16T161028Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-255100-1.xml| | |||
===1980s: Videotapes, AIDS, and gay for pay === | |||
title=Orissa crocodile recognised as world's largest| | |||
publisher=Reuters| | |||
date=]| | |||
accessdate = 2006-06-18}} </ref> | |||
Wildlife experts, however, argue that the largest crocodile so far found in the Bhitarkanika was almost 7.62 m which could be traced from the skull preserved by the Kanika Royal Family. The crocodile, probably was shot dead near Dhamara during 1926 and later its skull was preserved by the then Kanika King. The crocodile experts said the crocodile would be about 7.62 m since the size of the skull was measured one seventh of the total length of the body. | |||
The ] were a period of transition for gay porn film. On one side, the development of ] technology would radically change the gay and straight adult industry. The proliferation of ]s made porn videos easily accessible. As the prices of video players fell during the decade, the market for ]s aimed at adult viewers became more and more lucrative. By the mid-1980s, the standard was to shoot porn movies directly on video, which meant the wide disappearance of porn theaters. Furthermore, video recording being more affordable, a multitude of producers entered the market, making low-budget porn videos. | |||
==Biology and behaviour== | |||
This shift from watching pornography as a public activity to doing so in private was also influenced by the discovery of the ] virus and the subsequent ] crisis. Public spaces for sex, such as theatres, became less attended when in the early 1980s it became a much riskier behavior. ] activities in the privacy of the home became a ] practice in the midst of this health crisis. | |||
Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close, then rushing out to attack. As cold-blooded predators, they can survive long periods without food, and rarely need to actively go hunting. The crocodile's bite strength is up to 3,000 pounds per square inch, comparing to just 100 psi for a labrador retriever, 350 psi for a large shark, or 800 psi for a hyena. Despite their slow appearance, crocodiles are top predators in their environment, and various species have been observed attacking and killing ]s.<ref></ref> A famous exception is the ] which is said to enjoy a ] relationship with the crocodile. According to unauthenticated reports, the plover feeds on parasites that infest the crocodile's mouth and the reptile will open its jaws and allow the bird to enter to clean out the mouth. | |||
Gay movies of the 1970s had contained some exploration of novel ways to represent the sexual act. In the 1980s, movies seemed all to be made under an unwritten set of rules and conventions. Most scenes would start with a few lines of dialogue, have performers engage in ] (]), followed by ], and ending with a visual climax ] of ] ]es, called a "money shot" or ]. Video technology allowed the recording of longer scenes than did the costly ]. Scenes were often composed of extended ] of the same act filmed from different ] using multiple cameras. The quality of the picture and sound were often very poor. | |||
]]] | |||
Big directors like Matt Sterling, John Travis, and William Higgins set the standard for the models of the decade. The performers they cast were especially young, usually appearing to be around the ages of 22 or 23. Their bodies were slender and hairless, of the "swimmer's build" type, which contrasted with the older, bigger, and hairier man of 70s gay porn. Performer roles also evolved into the tight divisions of "]" and "]". The "top" in anal sex is the penetrating partner, who would typically have a more muscular body and the larger penis. The "bottom," or receiver of anal sex, would often be smaller and sometimes more ]. The stars of the decade were almost always tops, while the bottoms were interchangeable (with the exception of ], a popular star, who was more of a "bottom".) | |||
Crocodiles eat fish, birds, mammals and occasionally smaller crocodiles. | |||
Wild crocodiles are protected in many parts of the world, but they also are farmed commercially. Their hide is tanned and used to make leather goods such as shoes and ]s, whilst crocodile meat is also considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. The most commonly farmed species are the Saltwater and Nile crocodiles, while a hybrid of the Saltwater and the rare ] is also bred in Asian farms. Farming has resulted in an increase in the Saltwater Crocodile population in ], as eggs are usually harvested from the wild, so landowners have an incentive to conserve crocodile habitat. | |||
Crocodiles are more closely related to birds and dinosaurs than to most animals classified as reptiles, the three being included in the group ] ('ruling reptiles'). See ] for more information. | |||
===Danger to humans=== | |||
This strict division between "tops" and "bottoms" may have reflected a preference by some of the popular directors of the decade to hire heterosexual men for their movies. Heterosexual men who perform gay sex for monetary reasons (commonly labeled "]") are considered a rare commodity in the gay sex trade, but the biggest producers of the decade could afford them. Many critics attributed the conventionalization of gay porn of the 80s to this trend. Straight men performing gay sex in these movies often did not show as much passion as could be apparent in sexual acts between genuine homosexuals. They may have shown dynamic activity during anal sex, but often stood motionless as their co-star engaged in fellatio upon them, and rarely engaged in ] or caressing. {{Fact|date=February 2007}} | |||
The larger species of crocodiles can be very dangerous to humans. The ] and ]s are the most dangerous, killing hundreds of people each year in parts of South-East Asia and Africa. ]s and possibly the endangered ], are also very dangerous to humans. ]s are less aggressive and rarely assault humans without provocation. The most deaths in a single crocodile attack incident may have occurred during the Battle of Ramree Island, on February 19, 1945, in what is now Myanmar. Nine hundred soldiers of an Imperial Japanese Army unit, in an attempt to retreat from the Royal Navy and rejoin a larger battalion of the Japanese infantry, crossed through ten miles of mangrove swamps which contained Saltwater Crocodiles. Twenty Japanese soldiers were captured alive by the British, and almost five hundred are known to have escaped Ramree. Many of the remainder may have been eaten by the crocodiles, although gunfire from the British troops was undoubtedly a contributory factor. Crocodiles are the leading cause of animal related deaths as of 2001. | |||
=== 1990s: Explosion of the niche market === | |||
== Crocodile blood == | |||
The gay porn industry diversified steadily in the ]. In 1989, director ] started a porn company which would set a new standard for gay porn producers. He was a professional ], and the images in his videos had a high technical quality. Also a former gay porn performer himself, he directed his models with care, which helped improved the actors' believability. Other directors had to improve their technical quality to keep up with ever more demanding viewers. | |||
{{tone}}Scientists in the United States have isolated a powerful agent in crocodile blood (]) which could help conquer human infections immune to standard antibiotics. The discovery was made thanks to the curiosity of Jill Fullerton-Smith, a ] science producer filming a documentary on salt-water crocodiles in Australia.<ref> . ''Blue Sky''. The Open University and the BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2007.</ref> | |||
==Crocodile leather== | |||
Another significant change during this decade was the explosion of the ]. Many videos began to be produced for viewers with specific tastes (i.e. for ], ] performers, ] fetishes, performers belonging to specific ], etc.), and this led to a huge diversification of the people involved in porn production and consumption. | |||
] | |||
Crocodile leather can be made into a variety of goods, such as wallets, briefcases, purses, belts and hats. | |||
The gay porn industry grew substantially in popularity during the 1990s, evolving into a complex and interactive ]. Professional directors (like ] and ]) as well as performers started to engage in pornography as a career, their work sustained by emerging porn media and influential ] (like ].) | |||
==Crocodile as food== | |||
=== Perspectives for the 21st century === | |||
Crocodile is consumed in some countries such as Australia, Ethiopia, Thailand, South Africa and also Cuba (in pickled form). It can also be found in specialty restaurants in some parts of the United States. The meat is white and its nutritional composition compares favourably with that of more traditional meats. It does tend to have a slightly higher cholesterol level than other meats. Crocodile meat has a delicate flavour and its taste can be complemented by the use of marinades. Choice cuts of meat include backstrap and tail fillet. | |||
==Differentiation from alligators== | |||
Today, gay pornography has become a highly profitable enterprise, ranging from the "straight-guy" porn of ] and ], to the ']s' of ]. | |||
While often confused with each other, ]s and crocodiles belong to two quite separate taxonomic families, and are as distinct from one another as humans are from gorillas. As for appearance, one generally reliable rule is that alligators have U-shaped heads, while crocodiles are V-shaped - which can be remembered by noting that "A" in alligator comes before "C" in crocodile, and "U" comes before "V". | |||
==Trivia== | |||
Some controversy currently exists regarding studios that produce condomless, or ] videos, such as ], ], Spunk Video, ] and ]. Mainstream companies, such as ], ], Lucas Entertainment, ], and ] claim that condomless videos promote unsafe sex and contribute to the continuing ] problem, both in the industry and in the gay community as a whole. | |||
{{Trivia|date=June 2007}} | |||
* The crocodile gets its name from the Greeks who observed them in the ] river. The Greeks called them krokodilos, a compound word from kroke, which means "pebbles" and drilos, which means "worm". To the Greeks, this "worm of the stones" was so named because of the crocodiles habit of basking in the sun on gravel-covered river banks. | |||
* ] was the name given by the Greeks to the live crocodile at ] in Ancient Egypt, which was worshipped as a manifestation of the Egyptian god ]; the deification of crocodiles. | |||
* Crocodile embryos do not have sex chromosomes, and unlike humans sex is not determined genetically. Sex is determined by temperature, with males produced at around 31.6 degrees celsius, and females produced at slightly lower and higher temperatures. The average incubation period is around 80 days, and also is dependent upon temperature.<ref>Britton, Adam. . ''Crocodilians: Natural History Conservation: Crocodiles, Caimans, Alligators, Gharials.'' Retrieved 4 January 2007.</ref> | |||
* Some of the extinct relatives of true crocodiles, members of the larger group ], were herbivorous. | |||
* During a voyage in 1585-1586, ] named the ] after the islands' 10-foot crocodiles, called "Caymanas" by the native ].<ref>Cayman Islands Government (2005). . Retrieved 4 January 2007. </ref> | |||
*Five live baby crocodiles are seen in 1967 ] series ], of the episode ]. | |||
== Taxonomy of the Crocodylidae == | |||
The controversy dates back to the first few years of the HIV crisis, when nearly all gay porn production companies voluntarily required their models to wear ]s for ]. The premise on which some industry figures (notably ]) base their sometimes vituperative objections{{Fact|date=February 2007}} to bareback porn is the claim that behavior of the performers serves as a model for viewer behavior. However there is only anecdotal evidence of this connection.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} There are strong opinions on both sides of this debate. | |||
].]] | |||
], ''Crocodylus cataphractus'']] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
Most species are grouped into the ] ''Crocodylus''. The two other living genera of this family are both ]: '']'' and '']''. | |||
* Family Crocodylidae | |||
** '''Subfamily ]''' (extinct) | |||
** '''Subfamily Crocodylinae''' | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct, formerly ''Crocodylus lloydi'') | |||
*** Genus '']'' | |||
**** ], '']'' (there has been controversy whether or not this is actually two species; current thinking is that there is one species with 2 subspecies: ''O. tetraspis tetraspis'' & ''O. t. osborni'') | |||
*** Genus '']'' | |||
**** ''] '', ] | |||
**** ''] '', ] (Recent DNA studies suggest that this species may actually be more basal than '']'', and belong in its own genus, '']'') | |||
**** ''] '', ] | |||
**** '']'', ] | |||
**** '']'', ] | |||
**** ''] '', ] or Mexican Crocodile | |||
**** '']'', ] or African Crocodile (the subspecies found in Madagascar is sometimes called the ]) | |||
**** '']'', ] | |||
**** '']'', ], Marsh Crocodile, or Indian Crocodile | |||
**** ''] '', ] or Estuarine Crocodile | |||
**** ''] '', ] | |||
**** '']'', ] | |||
** '''Subfamily Tomistominae''' (recent studies may show that this group is actually more closely related to the Gavialidae) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' (extinct) | |||
*** Genus '']'' | |||
**** '']'', ] or Malayan gharial | |||
**** '']'' (extinct) | |||
**** '']'' (extinct) | |||
**** '']'' (extinct, pleistocene species from Japan) | |||
**** '']'' (extinct, also known as ''Super Croc''). | |||
== |
==In popular culture== | ||
* In the fictional ] series by ], a large crocodile had bitten off ]'s hand, leaving him with his hook. It pursued him ever after. As it had also eaten a clock, its ticking let Hook know whenever the crocodile was approaching. It eventually caught up with and consumed him. In ]'s sequel film, '']'', it was shown that despite this, the Captain had gained the upper hand – the crocodile, dead and stuffed, had been transformed into a town-square clock tower – which eventually fell forwards onto him, 'eating' the villain once again. | |||
{{Unreferenced|date=October 2006}} | |||
*There are many horror films featuring rampaging giant crocodiles in the manner of the ] in Spielberg's '']''. While some follow the ] of unwanted pets being flushed down the toilet and growing to huge and deadly size in the sewers, one recent entry, '']'', instead has an isolated variety of giant croc discovered in the wild. | |||
The primary viewers of gay pornography are gay and bisexual men, as well as some men who identify as heterosexual, but nonetheless have strong homoerotic drives. Some heterosexual women also have an interest in gay pornography that is analogous to some heterosexual men's interest in ]. ] comic books and ] are both genres featuring gay men, but primarily written by and for straight women. Some lesbian and bisexual women are also fans of gay male pornography, specifically yaoi, for its feminine-styled men. | |||
*In the '']'' series, starring ], crocodiles are seen in most episodes. Steve Irwin himself personally admired crocodiles, and one of the activities he was known for is feeding crocodiles at his ]. | |||
*The ] ] '']'' features ] as the usually unsuccessful antagonists of their neighbor, Zebra, and who mostly speak in grade school-like ]. | |||
*In the Disney movie '']'', two abandoned pet crocodiles that dwell in the sewer guide the protagonists to the harbour rather than eating them. | |||
*In the Disney movie '']'', villain ] has a pair of crocodiles as henchmen; they menace her kidnap victims at her command. | |||
*In the Disney movie '']'' and spin-off TV shows and sequels, the villain, ], has a pet crocodile that lives in a chamber accessed by a lever next to another lever that accesses her secret lab. Often, she comically pulls the wrong lever, falling into the pit only to return with the croc latched onto her, proclaiming, "Why do we even have that lever?!" | |||
*The '']'' series of books (by ]) and animated films feature ] as one of the main characters. He works in a zoo, as a crocodile (naturally). | |||
*In the anime series '']'', a transfer student from Australia named ] has a pet crocodile named Karen. He also has a special backpack for her that he carries her around in. | |||
*In the anime series '']'', there is a fictional species of crocodile called the Bananawani, named for the banana-shaped growth on its head. | |||
*In the ] universe, one member of the Dark Knight's rogues gallery is ] (Waylon Jones), a fighter of immense strength but variable intelligence who, due to his suffering a skin deformity and having filed his teeth to points, resembles a humanoid crocodile. | |||
*In the 1990s animated ] series, one episode features the Sewer King, who rules over a community of orphaned children beneath ] and controls the crocodiles that live there, setting them on the Batman. | |||
*In the ] film '']'', Dr Kananga alias ] maintains a crocodile farm in the ] Bayou with the legend, 'Trespassers Will Be Eaten' on its gate. It is actually a front for the processing stage of his heroin racket. Bond is taken here to be killed by henchman ], who explains that one of the farm's crocs, 'Old Albert', is responsible for his using a prosthetic arm. Abandoned on an island in the midst of the lake full of hungry crocs, Bond escapes by running across the reptiles' backs. A croc features feature prominently on the film's poster. | |||
*In the ] film '']'', 007 crosses a croc-infested lake in India in a mini-sub disguised as a crocodile, to confront the eponymous shady character on her ]. Later after a fight, he and an assailant fall into the water and he is believed by Octopussy to be killed by a large croc that then attacks (he actually escapes in his sub). | |||
*In ], the starter for the second generation of pokemon, ], is a crocodile-like creature that alludes to this. | |||
*In the ] by K.A. Applegate, ] (#12) focuses on ] acquiring a crocodile morph and becoming allergic to it. | |||
*In the videogame ] there is a species called Cocodile. It resembles a crocodile, but has been made to look a lot less fearsome than its real life counterpart. This also creates a small running joke in the ], for when a character refers to a Cocodile as fearsome or terrifying etc, the referenced Cocodile will respond "I'm/We're not very scary." | |||
== |
== See also == | ||
{{Wikispecies|Crocodilia}} | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
== |
==References== | ||
<references/> | |||
*''Boys in the Sand'' (], 1971) | |||
:First feature gay porn film to achieve mainstream crossover success; helped usher in "porn chic." Said to be "a textbook example of gay erotic filmmaking" that was screened in ]s all over the world.<ref>http://www.phillyfests.com/piglff/2001/templates/film_details.cfm?id=466</ref> | |||
*''The Back Row'' (Jerry Douglas, 1972) | |||
:The first feature from award-winning director Douglas. Re-made by Chi Chi LaRue in 2001. Featured in ''Unzipped Magazine'''s ''The 100 Greatest Gay Adult Films Ever Made'' (2005). | |||
*''L.A. Plays Itself'' (Fred Halsted, 1972) | |||
:Movie by an influential director (read the chapter consecrated to it in Moore, 2004 for more.) Is archived at the ] (MoMA), New York. | |||
*''Nights in Black Leather'' (Richard Abel and ], 1973) | |||
:Influential movie starring Peter Berlin. | |||
*''Falconhead'' (Michael Zen, 1977) | |||
:Is still acclaimed by cultural critics as one of a few gay porn movies that tried to bring complexity to the blue movie. Inspired many contemporary porn filmmakers (Morris, 2004). Featured in ''Unzipped Magazine'''s ''The 100 Greatest Gay Adult Films Ever Made'' (2005). | |||
*''Dune Buddies'' (Jack Deveau, 1978) Hand in Hand Films | |||
:Film by a prominent director and studio of the 1970s. Shot in Fire Island, the film (and others of the company) document well the sexual lives of New York City's gay men of the period. Excerpts displayed in the documentary ''Gay Sex in the 70s''. | |||
]'s trilogy: | |||
:*'']'' (1976) | |||
:*'']'' (1977) | |||
:*'']'' (1979) | |||
::See article on Joe Gage. | |||
*''The Other Side of Aspen 1-5'' (Bill Clayton (1-2), John Rutherford (3-5), 1979-2001) ] | |||
:Some of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn">{{cite book | title=The AVN Guide to the 500 Greatest Adult Films of All Time: Plus: The Sexiest Starlets, Hall-of-Fame Performers, Behind the Scenes, and More!| url=http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Greatest-Adult-Films-Hall/dp/1560257199| last=Connelly| first=Tim, Editor| authorlink=Tim Connelly|date=]| publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press / Avalon Book Publishing Group| location=]| id=ISBN 978-1560257196}}</ref> | |||
=== 1980s === | |||
*'']'' (Matt Sterling, 1984) | |||
:One of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn" /> | |||
*''Les Minets Sauvages'' (], 1984) | |||
:One of the biggest films of the influential French porn director (see article on him.) | |||
*''My Masters'' (Christopher Rage, 1986) | |||
:One movie by a director that has influenced numerous gay artists<ref>http://www.christopherragevideo.com/</ref> | |||
*''Powertool'' (John Travis, 1986) | |||
:One of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn" /> | |||
*''Big Guns'' (William Higgins, 1988) ] | |||
:One of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn" /> | |||
*''Carnival in Rio'' (], 1989) | |||
:See History, 1990s section above. | |||
=== 1990s === | |||
*''Idol Eyes'' (Matt Sterling, 1990) Huge Video | |||
:Movie with ]. Read Dyer, 1994 for more. | |||
*''More of a Man'' (Jerry Douglas, 1994) All Worlds Video | |||
:Popular film with ] (see History, 1980s section) also featuring Chi Chi LaRue in a non-sexual role. Read Burger, 1995 chapter for an extensive analysis. | |||
*''Flashpoint'' (John Rutherford, 1994) ] | |||
:Award winning film by major director Rutherford. Featured in ''Unzipped Magazine'''s ''The 100 Greatest Gay Adult Films Ever Made'' (2005). | |||
*''Frisky Summer 1-4'' (George Duroy, 1995-2002) Bel Ami | |||
:One of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn" /> | |||
*''Flesh and Blood'' (Jerry Douglas, 1996) All Worlds Video | |||
:One of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn" /> | |||
*''Naked Highway'' (Wash West, 1997) | |||
:The narrative and aesthetic qualities of this movie are representative of a new generation of porn film makers. (Thomas, 2000:66) One of Adult Video News' 10 Great Gay Movies<ref name="avn" /> | |||
*''Three Brothers'' (Gino Colbert, 1998) Gino Pictures | |||
:Popular movie by influential director Colbert, starring the real-life Rockland brothers (], ], and ]). Featured in ''Unzipped Magazine'''s ''The 100 Greatest Gay Adult Films Ever Made'' (2005). | |||
*''Descent'' (Steven Scarborough, 1999) Hot House Entertainment | |||
:Popular gay porn video with unfrequent artistic qualities, by a prominent director and studio. Created legal dispute in Canada when the government tried to forbid its distribution in the name of obscenity rules.<ref>http://www.gladdaybookshop.com/ofrb/articles/Xtra11_30.htm</ref> | |||
*'']'' (], 1999) Cazzo Film | |||
:Famous film by art/porn director LaBruce. Aired in gay film festivals around the world. | |||
*''Fallen Angel'' (Bruce Cam, 1997) Titan Media | |||
:Major film by prominent director and studio. Featured in ''Unzipped Magazine'''s ''The 100 Greatest Gay Adult Films Ever Made'' (2005). | |||
=== 2000s === | |||
*'']'' (], 2003) ] | |||
:Spawned a whole series of similarly-titled films (for example, ], ], and ]) | |||
*'']'' (], 2005) Lucas Entertainment | |||
:Biggest production by this director and studio. Variously described as a ] of '']'' (1782), and a ] of '']'' (1988). | |||
*''Dawson's 20 Load Weekend'' (], 2004) ] | |||
:Major production by infamous director ]. Created huge controversy because it is mainly composed of ] sex. | |||
*''Wrong Side of the Tracks'' (], 2006) ] | |||
:Largest production up to date by on of the most enduring porn directors of history. | |||
*''] Season One'' (Matthew Moore, 2004-06) ] pioneered pornography made for online delivery, using an episodic narrative structure based on TV ]. | |||
*''] The Series'' ('''Patrick Mizer''', 2004-06) ] pioneered the insight to the life of loving a transvestite. He uses the film to illustrate his love of high heels on men. | |||
== Further reading and information == | |||
=== Academic works === | |||
*{{cite book | last = Bronski | first = Michael | title = Pulp Friction : Uncovering the Golden Age of Gay Male Pulps | publisher = St. Martin's Griffin | year = 2003 | location = New York }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Burger | first = John R. | title = One-Handed Histories : The Eroto-Politics of Gay Male Video Pornography | publisher = Haworth Press | year = 1995 | location = New York }} | |||
*{{Harvard reference | Surname1=Cante | Given1=Rich | Surname2=Restivo | Given2=Angelo | Year= 2001 | Chapter=The Voice of Pornography: Tracking the Subject through the Sonic Spaces of Gay Male Moving-Image Pornography | Editor=Matthew Tinkcom, Amy Villarejo | Title=Keyframes | Page=207-227. | Publisher=Routledge | Place=New York; London }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Delany | first = Samuel R. | authorlink = Samuel R. Delany | title = Times Square Red, Times Square Blue | publisher = New York University Press | year = 1999 | location = New York}} | |||
*{{cite journal | last = Dyer | first = Richard | authorlink = Richard Dyer | title = Idol Thoughts: Orgasm and Self-Reflexivity in Gay Pornography | journal = The Critical Quarterly | volume = 36 | issue = 1 | pages = 49-62 |date= Spring 1994 }} | |||
*{{Harvard reference | Surname1=Dyer | Given1=Richard | Year=2002 | Chapter=Coming to Terms: Gay Pornography | Title=Only Entertainment | Edition=2nd | Page=121-134. | Publisher=Routledge | Place=London ; New York }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Kendall | first = Christopher N. | title = Gay Male Pornography : An Issue of Sex Discrimination | publisher = UBC Press | year = 2004 | location = Vancouver, BC }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = John | first = Elton | title = Goodbye Yellow Dick Mold - The Control of AIDS in the Gay Porn Industry | publisher = Rock Hudson Liberace Museum | year = 2005 | location = Yerrinshire }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Moore | first = Patrick | title = Beyond Shame : Reclaiming the Abandoned History of Radical Gay Sexuality | publisher = Beacon Press | year = 2004 | location = Boston }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Morrison | first = Todd G. | title = Eclectic Views on Gay Male Pornography : Pornucopia | publisher = Harrington Park Press | year = 2004 | location = Binghamton, NY }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Slade | first = Joseph W. | title = Pornography and Sexual Representation : A Reference Guide | publisher = Greenwood Press | year = 2001 | location = Westport, Conn. }} | |||
*{{cite journal | last = Stevenson | first = Jack. | authorlink = Jack Stevenson | title = From the Bedroom to the Bijou: A Secret History of American Gay Sex Cinema | journal = Film Quarterly | volume = 51 | issue = 1 | pages = 24-31 |date= Fall 1997 }} | |||
*{{Harvard reference | Surname1=Thomas | Given1=Joe A. | Year=2000 | Chapter=Gay Male Video Pornography: Past, Present, and Future | Editor=Ronald John Weitzer | Title=Sex for Sale : Prostitution, Pornography, and the Sex Industry | Page=49-66. | Publisher=Routledge | Place=New York }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Waugh | first = Thomas | title = Lust Unearthed: Vintage Gay Graphics from the DuBek Collection | publisher = Arsenal Pulp Press | year = 2004 | location = Vancouver }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Waugh | first = Thomas | title = Out/lines : Underground Gay Graphics from before Stonewall | publisher = Arsenal Pulp Press | year = 2002 | location = Vancouver }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Waugh | first = Thomas | title = Hard to Imagine : Gay Male Eroticism in Photography and Film from their Beginnings to Stonewall | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1996 | location = New York }} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Williams | first = Linda | title = Porn Studies | publisher = Duke University Press | year = 2004 | location = Durham }} | |||
=== Biographies === | |||
*{{cite book | last = Edmonson | first = Roger | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Clone: The Life and Legacy of ], Gay Superstar | publisher = Alyson Books | year = 2000 | location = | url = | doi = | id = ISBN 1-55583-529-5}} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Edmonson | first = Roger | authorlink = | coauthors = Jerry Douglas | title = Boy in the Sand: ], All-American Sex Star | publisher = Alyson Books | year = 1998 | location = | url = | doi = | id = ISBN 1-55583-457-4}} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Isherwood | first = Charles | |||
| authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Wonder Bread & Ecstasy : The Life and Death of ] | publisher = Alyson Books | year = 1996 | location = | url = | doi = | id = ISBN 1-55583-383-7}} | |||
*{{cite book | last = Larue | first = Chi Chi | authorlink = Chi Chi Larue | coauthors = John Erich | title = Making It Big: Sex Stars, Porn Films and Me | publisher = Alyson Publications | year = 1997 | location = | url = | doi = | id = ISBN 1-55583-392-6}} | |||
=== Documentaries === | |||
*Beyond Vanilla. (Claes Lilja, 2001) | |||
*''Gay Sex in the 70s''. (Joseph F. Lovett, 2005) | |||
*''That Man: Peter Berlin''. (Jim Tushinski, 2005) | |||
== See also == | |||
==Further reading== | |||
*] | |||
* Iskandar, DT (2000). ''Turtles and Crocodiles of Insular Southeast Asia and New Guinea''. ITB, Bandung. | |||
*] | |||
* Crocodilian Biology Database, FAQ. "How long do crocodiles live for?" Adam Britton. | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
== |
== External links == | ||
* | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
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Revision as of 22:53, 4 June 2007
For other uses, see Crocodile (disambiguation).
Crocodiles Temporal range: Late Cretaceous - Recent | |
---|---|
Nile Crocodile | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
(unranked): | Archosauria |
Class: | Sauropsida |
Order: | Crocodilia |
Family: | Crocodylidae Cuvier, 1807 |
Genera | |
See full taxonomy. |
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the subfamily Crocodylinae). The term can also be used more loosely to include all members of the order Crocodilia: i.e. the true crocodiles, the alligators and caimans (family Alligatoridae) and the gharials (family Gavialidae), or even the Crocodylomorpha which includes prehistoric crocodile relatives and ancestors. Crocodiles are large aquatic reptiles that live throughout the Tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Crocodiles tend to congregate in freshwater habitats like rivers, lakes, wetlands and sometimes in brackish water. Some species, notably the Saltwater Crocodile of Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands often live along the coastal areas. It is also known to venture far out to sea. They mostly feed on vertebrates like fish, reptiles, and mammals, sometimes with invertebrates like mollusks and crustaceans, depending on species. They are an ancient lineage, and are believed to have changed little since the time of the dinosaurs.
Description
Crocodiles are the most advanced of all reptiles despite their prehistoric look. Unlike other reptiles they have a four-chambered heart, diaphragm and cerebral cortex. Their external morphology on the other hand is a sign of their aquatic and predatory lifestyle. A crocodile’s physical traits allow it to be a successful predator. They have a streamlined body that enables them to swim faster. They also tuck their feet to their sides while swimming, which makes the animal even faster, by decreasing the water resistance. They have webbed feet which, although not used to propel the animal through the water, allow it to make fast turns and sudden moves in the water or initiate swimming. Webbed feet are an advantage in shallower water where the animals sometimes move around by walking.
Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water. They have extremely powerful jaws capable of biting down with 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, and sharp teeth for tearing flesh, but cannot open their mouth if it is held closed. There are stories of people escaping from the long-snouted Nile Crocodile by holding its jaws shut. Zoologists will often subdue crocodiles for study or transport by taping their jaws or holding their jaws shut with large rubber bands cut from automobile inner tubes. All large crocodiles also have sharp and powerful claws. They have limited lateral movement in their neck, so on land protection can be found by getting even a small tree between the crocodile's jaws and oneself.
Age
There is no reliable way of measuring crocodile age, although several techniques could be used to derive a reasonable guess. The most common method is to measure lamellar growth rings in bones and teeth - each ring corresponds to a change in growth rate which typically occurs once a year between dry and wet seasons. Bearing these inaccuracies in mind, the oldest crocodilians appear to be the largest species. C. porosus is estimated to live around 70 years on average, and there is limited evidence that some individuals may exceed 100 years. One of the oldest crocodiles recorded died in a zoo in Russia apparently aged 115 years old.
A male freshwater crocodile at the Australia Zoo is estimated to be 130 years old. He was rescued from the wild by Bob Irwin and Steve Irwin after being shot twice by hunters. As a result of the shootings, this crocodile (known affectionately as "Mr. Freshy") has lost his right eye.
Size
Size greatly varies between species, from the dwarf crocodile to the enormous saltwater crocodile. Large species can reach over 5 or 6 meters long and weigh well over 1200 kg. Despite their large adult size, crocodiles start their life at around 20 cm long. The largest species of crocodile is the Saltwater Crocodile, found in northern Australia and throughout South-east Asia. According to some scientists, there are no truly reliable records of any non-prehistoric crocodiles over 8.64 m.
In the town of Normanton, Queensland, Australia, there is an 8.63 meter fibreglass mould of a crocodile called "Krys the Croc.," shot in 1958 by Krystina Pawloski, who found the animal on a sandbank on the Norman River.
The other two larger certifiable records of complete crocodile are both of 6.2 m crocodiles. The first crocodile was shot in the Mary River in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1974 by poachers and measured by wildlife rangers. The second crocodile was killed in 1983 in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea. In this latter crocodile it was actually the skin that was measured by zoologist Jerome Montague, and as skins are known to underestimate the size of the actual animal, it is possible this crocodile was at least another 10 cm longer.
The largest crocodile ever held in captivity is an Estuarine/Siamese hybrid named Yai (Thai: ใหญ่, meaning big) (born 10 June, 1972) at the famous Samutprakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo, Thailand. This animal measured 6 m in length and weighs 1,114.27 kg.
Another huge captive crocodile was a saltie named Gomek. Gomek was captured by George Craig in Papua New Guinea and sold to St. Augustine Alligator Farm in Florida. Gomek died of heart disease in February 1997. By this stage, he was a very old crocodile. When he died, he was 5.5 m long - as confirmed by St. Augustine Alligator Farm - and probably between 70 and 80 years old.
On June 16, 2006, a 7.1 m giant saltwater crocodile in Orissa, India was crowned the world's largest living crocodile. It lives in Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and in June 2006, was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Wildlife experts, however, argue that the largest crocodile so far found in the Bhitarkanika was almost 7.62 m which could be traced from the skull preserved by the Kanika Royal Family. The crocodile, probably was shot dead near Dhamara during 1926 and later its skull was preserved by the then Kanika King. The crocodile experts said the crocodile would be about 7.62 m since the size of the skull was measured one seventh of the total length of the body.
Biology and behaviour
Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close, then rushing out to attack. As cold-blooded predators, they can survive long periods without food, and rarely need to actively go hunting. The crocodile's bite strength is up to 3,000 pounds per square inch, comparing to just 100 psi for a labrador retriever, 350 psi for a large shark, or 800 psi for a hyena. Despite their slow appearance, crocodiles are top predators in their environment, and various species have been observed attacking and killing sharks. A famous exception is the Egyptian Plover which is said to enjoy a symbiotic relationship with the crocodile. According to unauthenticated reports, the plover feeds on parasites that infest the crocodile's mouth and the reptile will open its jaws and allow the bird to enter to clean out the mouth.
Crocodiles eat fish, birds, mammals and occasionally smaller crocodiles. Wild crocodiles are protected in many parts of the world, but they also are farmed commercially. Their hide is tanned and used to make leather goods such as shoes and handbags, whilst crocodile meat is also considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. The most commonly farmed species are the Saltwater and Nile crocodiles, while a hybrid of the Saltwater and the rare Siamese Crocodile is also bred in Asian farms. Farming has resulted in an increase in the Saltwater Crocodile population in Australia, as eggs are usually harvested from the wild, so landowners have an incentive to conserve crocodile habitat. Crocodiles are more closely related to birds and dinosaurs than to most animals classified as reptiles, the three being included in the group Archosauria ('ruling reptiles'). See Crocodilia for more information.
Danger to humans
The larger species of crocodiles can be very dangerous to humans. The Saltwater and Nile Crocodiles are the most dangerous, killing hundreds of people each year in parts of South-East Asia and Africa. Mugger crocodiles and possibly the endangered Black Caiman, are also very dangerous to humans. American alligators are less aggressive and rarely assault humans without provocation. The most deaths in a single crocodile attack incident may have occurred during the Battle of Ramree Island, on February 19, 1945, in what is now Myanmar. Nine hundred soldiers of an Imperial Japanese Army unit, in an attempt to retreat from the Royal Navy and rejoin a larger battalion of the Japanese infantry, crossed through ten miles of mangrove swamps which contained Saltwater Crocodiles. Twenty Japanese soldiers were captured alive by the British, and almost five hundred are known to have escaped Ramree. Many of the remainder may have been eaten by the crocodiles, although gunfire from the British troops was undoubtedly a contributory factor. Crocodiles are the leading cause of animal related deaths as of 2001.
Crocodile blood
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Scientists in the United States have isolated a powerful agent in crocodile blood (crocodillin) which could help conquer human infections immune to standard antibiotics. The discovery was made thanks to the curiosity of Jill Fullerton-Smith, a BBC science producer filming a documentary on salt-water crocodiles in Australia.
Crocodile leather
Crocodile leather can be made into a variety of goods, such as wallets, briefcases, purses, belts and hats.
Crocodile as food
Crocodile is consumed in some countries such as Australia, Ethiopia, Thailand, South Africa and also Cuba (in pickled form). It can also be found in specialty restaurants in some parts of the United States. The meat is white and its nutritional composition compares favourably with that of more traditional meats. It does tend to have a slightly higher cholesterol level than other meats. Crocodile meat has a delicate flavour and its taste can be complemented by the use of marinades. Choice cuts of meat include backstrap and tail fillet.
Differentiation from alligators
While often confused with each other, alligators and crocodiles belong to two quite separate taxonomic families, and are as distinct from one another as humans are from gorillas. As for appearance, one generally reliable rule is that alligators have U-shaped heads, while crocodiles are V-shaped - which can be remembered by noting that "A" in alligator comes before "C" in crocodile, and "U" comes before "V".
Trivia
This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (June 2007) |
- The crocodile gets its name from the Greeks who observed them in the Nile river. The Greeks called them krokodilos, a compound word from kroke, which means "pebbles" and drilos, which means "worm". To the Greeks, this "worm of the stones" was so named because of the crocodiles habit of basking in the sun on gravel-covered river banks.
- Petsuchos was the name given by the Greeks to the live crocodile at Crocodilopolis in Ancient Egypt, which was worshipped as a manifestation of the Egyptian god Sobek; the deification of crocodiles.
- Crocodile embryos do not have sex chromosomes, and unlike humans sex is not determined genetically. Sex is determined by temperature, with males produced at around 31.6 degrees celsius, and females produced at slightly lower and higher temperatures. The average incubation period is around 80 days, and also is dependent upon temperature.
- Some of the extinct relatives of true crocodiles, members of the larger group Crocodylomorpha, were herbivorous.
- During a voyage in 1585-1586, Sir Francis Drake named the Cayman Islands after the islands' 10-foot crocodiles, called "Caymanas" by the native Caribs.
- Five live baby crocodiles are seen in 1967 television series Thunderbirds, of the episode Attack of the Alligators.
Taxonomy of the Crocodylidae
Most species are grouped into the genus Crocodylus. The two other living genera of this family are both monotypic: Osteolaemus and Tomistoma.
- Family Crocodylidae
- Subfamily Mekosuchinae (extinct)
- Subfamily Crocodylinae
- Genus Euthecodon (extinct)
- Genus Rimasuchus (extinct, formerly Crocodylus lloydi)
- Genus Osteolaemus
- Dwarf Crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis (there has been controversy whether or not this is actually two species; current thinking is that there is one species with 2 subspecies: O. tetraspis tetraspis & O. t. osborni)
- Genus Crocodylus
- Crocodylus acutus , American Crocodile
- Crocodylus cataphractus , Slender-snouted Crocodile (Recent DNA studies suggest that this species may actually be more basal than Crocodylus, and belong in its own genus, Mecistops)
- Crocodylus intermedius , Orinoco Crocodile
- Crocodylus johnstoni, Freshwater Crocodile
- Crocodylus mindorensis, Philippine Crocodile
- Crocodylus moreletii , Morelet's Crocodile or Mexican Crocodile
- Crocodylus niloticus, Nile Crocodile or African Crocodile (the subspecies found in Madagascar is sometimes called the Black Crocodile)
- Crocodylus novaeguineae, New Guinea Crocodile
- Crocodylus palustris, Mugger Crocodile, Marsh Crocodile, or Indian Crocodile
- Crocodylus porosus , Saltwater Crocodile or Estuarine Crocodile
- Crocodylus rhombifer , Cuban Crocodile
- Crocodylus siamensis, Siamese Crocodile
- Subfamily Tomistominae (recent studies may show that this group is actually more closely related to the Gavialidae)
- Genus Kentisuchus (extinct)
- Genus Gavialosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Paratomistoma (extinct)
- Genus Thecachampsa (extinct)
- Genus Kentisuchus (extinct)
- Genus Rhamphosuchus (extinct)
- Genus Tomistoma
- Tomistoma schlegelii, False gharial or Malayan gharial
- Tomistoma lusitanica (extinct)
- Tomistoma cairense (extinct)
- Tomistoma machikanense (extinct, pleistocene species from Japan)
- Sarcosuchus (extinct, also known as Super Croc).
In popular culture
- In the fictional Peter Pan series by J.M Barrie, a large crocodile had bitten off Captain Hook's hand, leaving him with his hook. It pursued him ever after. As it had also eaten a clock, its ticking let Hook know whenever the crocodile was approaching. It eventually caught up with and consumed him. In Steven Spielberg's sequel film, Hook, it was shown that despite this, the Captain had gained the upper hand – the crocodile, dead and stuffed, had been transformed into a town-square clock tower – which eventually fell forwards onto him, 'eating' the villain once again.
- There are many horror films featuring rampaging giant crocodiles in the manner of the shark in Spielberg's Jaws. While some follow the urban legend of unwanted pets being flushed down the toilet and growing to huge and deadly size in the sewers, one recent entry, Lake Placid, instead has an isolated variety of giant croc discovered in the wild.
- In the Crocodile Hunter series, starring Steve Irwin, crocodiles are seen in most episodes. Steve Irwin himself personally admired crocodiles, and one of the activities he was known for is feeding crocodiles at his Australia Zoo.
- The Stephan Pastis comic strip Pearls Before Swine features The Fraternity of Crocodiles as the usually unsuccessful antagonists of their neighbor, Zebra, and who mostly speak in grade school-like phonetics.
- In the Disney movie The Wild, two abandoned pet crocodiles that dwell in the sewer guide the protagonists to the harbour rather than eating them.
- In the Disney movie The Rescuers, villain Madame Medusa has a pair of crocodiles as henchmen; they menace her kidnap victims at her command.
- In the Disney movie The Emperor's New Groove and spin-off TV shows and sequels, the villain, Yzma, has a pet crocodile that lives in a chamber accessed by a lever next to another lever that accesses her secret lab. Often, she comically pulls the wrong lever, falling into the pit only to return with the croc latched onto her, proclaiming, "Why do we even have that lever?!"
- The Cheburashka series of books (by Eduard Uspensky) and animated films feature Crocodile Gena as one of the main characters. He works in a zoo, as a crocodile (naturally).
- In the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, a transfer student from Australia named Jim Crocodile Cook has a pet crocodile named Karen. He also has a special backpack for her that he carries her around in.
- In the anime series One Piece, there is a fictional species of crocodile called the Bananawani, named for the banana-shaped growth on its head.
- In the Batman universe, one member of the Dark Knight's rogues gallery is Killer Croc (Waylon Jones), a fighter of immense strength but variable intelligence who, due to his suffering a skin deformity and having filed his teeth to points, resembles a humanoid crocodile.
- In the 1990s animated Batman series, one episode features the Sewer King, who rules over a community of orphaned children beneath Gotham City and controls the crocodiles that live there, setting them on the Batman.
- In the James Bond film Live and Let Die, Dr Kananga alias Mr Big maintains a crocodile farm in the Louisiana Bayou with the legend, 'Trespassers Will Be Eaten' on its gate. It is actually a front for the processing stage of his heroin racket. Bond is taken here to be killed by henchman Tee Hee Johnson, who explains that one of the farm's crocs, 'Old Albert', is responsible for his using a prosthetic arm. Abandoned on an island in the midst of the lake full of hungry crocs, Bond escapes by running across the reptiles' backs. A croc features feature prominently on the film's poster.
- In the James Bond film Octopussy, 007 crosses a croc-infested lake in India in a mini-sub disguised as a crocodile, to confront the eponymous shady character on her private island. Later after a fight, he and an assailant fall into the water and he is believed by Octopussy to be killed by a large croc that then attacks (he actually escapes in his sub).
- In Pokemon, the starter for the second generation of pokemon, Totodile, is a crocodile-like creature that alludes to this.
- In the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate, The Reaction (Animorphs) (#12) focuses on Rachel (Animorphs) acquiring a crocodile morph and becoming allergic to it.
- In the videogame Viva Piñata there is a species called Cocodile. It resembles a crocodile, but has been made to look a lot less fearsome than its real life counterpart. This also creates a small running joke in the Viva Piñata TV series, for when a character refers to a Cocodile as fearsome or terrifying etc, the referenced Cocodile will respond "I'm/We're not very scary."
See also
- Crocodile attacks
- crocodile exoskeleton
- Mekosuchine crocodiles
- Crocodiles in sewers
- The Crocodile Hunter
- Steve Irwin
References
- Britton, Adam. Crocodilian Biology Database, FAQ. "How long do crocodiles live for?". Retrieved 9/11/2006.
- Britton, Adam. Crocodilian Biology Database, FAQ. "How long do crocodiles live for?". Retrieved 9/11/2006.
- profile of Mr Freshy at Australia Zoo website, accessed 1 February 2007
- AAP. "Steve Irwin's nothing on One Shot Krys". The Age Melbourne, 24 September 2002. Retrieved 8 January 2007.
- "Orissa crocodile recognised as world's largest". Reuters. 2006-06-16. Retrieved 2006-06-18.
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(help) - Blogspot: Swim a your own risk
- "Crocodile Cure". Blue Sky. The Open University and the BBC. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
- Britton, Adam. Estuarine Crocodile: Crocodylus porosus. Crocodilians: Natural History Conservation: Crocodiles, Caimans, Alligators, Gharials. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
- Cayman Islands Government (2005). Cayman Islands History. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
Further reading
- Iskandar, DT (2000). Turtles and Crocodiles of Insular Southeast Asia and New Guinea. ITB, Bandung.
- Crocodilian Biology Database, FAQ. "How long do crocodiles live for?" Adam Britton.
External links
- Crocodilian Online
- Recent Crocodile Attacks in Australia
- BBC news finds powerful agent in crocodile blood