Crocodilians

the three lineages of crocodylians

* alligatoridae
* crocodylidae
* gavialidae

the gharial

now restricted to a small portion of the Ganges River drainage

false gharial

inhabits the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Java

mandibular smphysis

the point where the mandibles meet at the anterior end of the lower jaw

three modes of terrestrial locomotion for crocs

* crawl
* walk
* gallop (crocs only)

integumentary sensory organs

small bulges covering the alligatorids head and the entirely of the body in crocodylids and gavialids that are extremely sensitive pressure receptors

choanae

internal nostrils

gular valve

flop of soft tissue that prevents water from entering the trachea

polygamous in crocodylians

a female may mate with more than one male during a breeding season

three activities considered play in crocodylians

* solitary locomotor play
* object play
* social play

temperature dependent sex in crocs

* females at low and high
* males at intermediate temperatures

creche

groups of young crocodilians that stay together for considerable time - several adults serve as guards