Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize
We provide the results on the first systematic effort to study cave-dwelling crocodiles in central Belize. For nearly three decades, managers at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve have frequently observed crocodile tracks and trackways in caves, while subterranean observations of crocodiles were less freq...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of South Florida Libraries
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Speleology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol52/iss1/8 |
| _version_ | 1827920941844267008 |
|---|---|
| author | Jut Wynne Marisa Tellez Kayla Hartwell Stevan Reneau Gilroy Welch Kyle Voyles Michael Cal Reynold Cal Denoy Castillo Jane Champion |
| author_facet | Jut Wynne Marisa Tellez Kayla Hartwell Stevan Reneau Gilroy Welch Kyle Voyles Michael Cal Reynold Cal Denoy Castillo Jane Champion |
| author_sort | Jut Wynne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We provide the results on the first systematic effort to study cave-dwelling crocodiles in central Belize. For nearly three decades, managers at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve have frequently observed crocodile tracks and trackways in caves, while subterranean observations of crocodiles were less frequent. We surveyed five caves previously identified as crocodile habitat by wading (up to waist deep) and kayaking; we also deployed trail cameras in five of six flooded caves. Crocodiles were directly observed in two caves and trail camera footage was captured of a crocodile exiting a third cave. Given that introgression between Morelet’s Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii (A.H.A. Duméril & Bibron, 1851)) and the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus Cuvier, 1807) is high throughout their sympatric range and none of the crocodiles were captured, all individuals were identified as Crocodylus acutus x C. moreletii?. Additionally, in the five caves previously identified as crocodile habitat, we identified at least 16 potential prey species including two invertebrate, four fish, one turtle, one bird, several bat, and eight non-bat mammal species via direct observation and trail cameras. Capture, examination, and stomach flushes of cave-dwelling crocodiles, as well as continued monitoring of vertebrates via trail cameras, additional prey species surveys, monitoring of cave temperatures, and developing detailed cave maps of crocodile caves are highly recommended to obtain the information to both characterize crocodile cave use and optimally manage cave resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:18:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b82a2006b53483390cc81cbd98739c2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0392-6672 1827-806X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:18:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | University of South Florida Libraries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Speleology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b82a2006b53483390cc81cbd98739c22023-06-20T15:26:57ZengUniversity of South Florida LibrariesInternational Journal of Speleology0392-66721827-806X2023-06-015217581https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.52.1.2470Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central BelizeJut Wynne0Marisa Tellez1Kayla Hartwell2Stevan Reneau3Gilroy Welch4Kyle Voyles5Michael Cal6Reynold Cal7Denoy Castillo8Jane Champion9Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USACrocodile Research Coalition, BelizeThe Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, BelizeThe Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, BelizeThe Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, BelizeBureau of Land Management, Utah, USABelmopan Methodist High School, BelizeThe Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, BelizeThe Foundation for Wildlife Conservation, BelizeCrocodile Research Coalition, BelizeWe provide the results on the first systematic effort to study cave-dwelling crocodiles in central Belize. For nearly three decades, managers at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve have frequently observed crocodile tracks and trackways in caves, while subterranean observations of crocodiles were less frequent. We surveyed five caves previously identified as crocodile habitat by wading (up to waist deep) and kayaking; we also deployed trail cameras in five of six flooded caves. Crocodiles were directly observed in two caves and trail camera footage was captured of a crocodile exiting a third cave. Given that introgression between Morelet’s Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii (A.H.A. Duméril & Bibron, 1851)) and the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus Cuvier, 1807) is high throughout their sympatric range and none of the crocodiles were captured, all individuals were identified as Crocodylus acutus x C. moreletii?. Additionally, in the five caves previously identified as crocodile habitat, we identified at least 16 potential prey species including two invertebrate, four fish, one turtle, one bird, several bat, and eight non-bat mammal species via direct observation and trail cameras. Capture, examination, and stomach flushes of cave-dwelling crocodiles, as well as continued monitoring of vertebrates via trail cameras, additional prey species surveys, monitoring of cave temperatures, and developing detailed cave maps of crocodile caves are highly recommended to obtain the information to both characterize crocodile cave use and optimally manage cave resources.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol52/iss1/8american crocodilecrocodile hybridcrocodylus acutuscrocodylus moreletiimorelet’s crocodilerunaway creek nature reserve |
| spellingShingle | Jut Wynne Marisa Tellez Kayla Hartwell Stevan Reneau Gilroy Welch Kyle Voyles Michael Cal Reynold Cal Denoy Castillo Jane Champion Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize International Journal of Speleology american crocodile crocodile hybrid crocodylus acutus crocodylus moreletii morelet’s crocodile runaway creek nature reserve |
| title | Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize |
| title_full | Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize |
| title_fullStr | Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize |
| title_short | Cave-dwelling crocodiles of Central Belize |
| title_sort | cave dwelling crocodiles of central belize |
| topic | american crocodile crocodile hybrid crocodylus acutus crocodylus moreletii morelet’s crocodile runaway creek nature reserve |
| url | https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol52/iss1/8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jutwynne cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT marisatellez cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT kaylahartwell cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT stevanreneau cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT gilroywelch cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT kylevoyles cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT michaelcal cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT reynoldcal cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT denoycastillo cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize AT janechampion cavedwellingcrocodilesofcentralbelize |