In this episode Adam Britton and Brandon Sideleau talk about some recent crocodile science, including species range extensions, using habitat type to predict crocodile behaviour, using drones for crocodile research, color-changing crocodiles, and more. We talk a little about some unusual attacks, and even talk a little about the latest Natalie Portman movie! (don't worry, it's relevant)
You can find the podcast below, and a few relevant links to topics we discussed:
Responses to drones: PLoS One
Habitat influences crocodile behaviour: PLoS One
Color change in crocodilians: nature.com
Fines for feeding crocodiles: ABC News Australia
Archive.org version
Direct link / Download
iTunes link
RSS
Posts
1 comment:
I don't know where to leave this comment, but I hope it finds you and that you are willing and able to respond.
I have been trying for years to confirm the oft-repeated claims about maximum sizes in extant American alligators and black caiman.
Within the past few years, the first confirmed American alligator of over 15' was taken by a hunter. The animal was not terribly old and achieved such a great length (and a weight of half a ton) in an area with a fair number of people. We all know the formerly accepted tales of 19' American alligators. In light of the recent proof of a 15'+ one, I ask the following: what was the head length of this monster gator and does the ratio of head to body in a 15' gator show the same warping relative to an average sized gator as has been reported for large (17'+) crocodiles? (In other words, if 15' for a gator is like 20' for a saltie, does the ratio of head to length vary with greater size in the same way for both?) On the basis of the head-to-length ratio of this monster American alligator, can you say something about the likely maximum length of the species by looking at subfossil remains?
Back to the black caiman: the University of Florida Museum recently tweeted a picture of what they claim is the largest black caiman skull in any collection. When asked (by me) what the actual measurements of the skull are, no response was given. Are you aware of this skull? If so, do you know it's measurements? And if you do, how do they compare to the 15'+ gator's skull? If this skull at UF is the largest black caiman skull in any collection on earth and it is not clearly larger than the largest attested American alligator skull, do you think that's evidence that black caiman maximum sizes have been grossly exaggerated in the literature or an artifact of a poor sample size?
Post a Comment