Surprises still abound in a world that is racing to know nature. Researchers have now discovered two completely new species of crocodiles in surprising locations off Mexico's coast.
Secret Reptiles on Isolated Islands
The two newly discovered crocodiles lived independently—one on Cozumel Island and the other on Banco Chinchorro, both close to the Yucatan Peninsula. The sites, despite being remote, have shown that the diversity of crocodiles is more than initially imagined.
Up to this point, scientists had thought that Crocodylus acutus, or the American crocodile, was a single species widespread across the Caribbean and Central America. But recent genetic analyses and comparisons of their anatomy have revealed otherwise. Scientists discovered that those crocodiles in Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro were genetically different from other crocodiles in the area.
The research compared crocodile DNA from along Mexico's Pacific coast, Central America and the Caribbean. The findings revealed distinct differences, validating these groups as distinct species and not local variations.
Less Than 1,000 in Each Group
Professor Hans Larsson, a biology researcher leading the work, called the findings surprising. “We assumed Crocodylus acutus was one species stretching from Baja California to Venezuela,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve studied these crocodiles in such detail.”
Although the populations are deemed stable, they are quite small. On each island there are fewer than 1,000 breeding crocodiles, making them susceptible to danger. Their isolation does not allow for them to quickly recover from whatever threat comes to them, which could be merely a change of climate or humans.
Larsson emphasised they must be conserved in what little habitat exists. With rapid coastal development, endangered species such as these crocodiles face a questionable future without immediate action.
Call for Conservation Action
Now that we know they are separate species, we have to do something," Larsson said. He added that prudent conservation and restrictions on land use near Cozumel and Banco Chinchorro are essential.
The finding comes as biodiversity continues to dwindle globally. As Larsson sees it, numerous species are going to vanish before they can even be discovered.
The research sheds light on just how much more there is to learn in the world around us—and how important it is to preserve what we have left.
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