Crocodile - Taxonomy of The Crocodylidae

Taxonomy of The Crocodylidae

Most species are grouped into the genus Crocodylus. The other extant genus, Osteolaemus, is monotypic (as is Mecistops, if recognized).

• Family Crocodylidae
  • Subfamily †Mekosuchinae (extinct)
  • Subfamily Crocodylinae
    • Genus Crocodylus
      • Crocodylus acutus, American crocodile
      • Crocodylus cataphractus, slender-snouted crocodile (studies in DNA and morphology suggest this species may be more basal than Crocodylus, so belongs in its own genus, Mecistops).
      • Crocodylus intermedius, Orinoco crocodile
      • Crocodylus johnsoni, freshwater crocodile, or Johnstone's 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, marsh or Indian crocodile
      • Crocodylus porosus, saltwater crocodile or estuarine crocodile
      • Crocodylus rhombifer, Cuban crocodile
      • Crocodylus siamensis, Siamese crocodile (may be extinct in the wild)
      • Crocodylus suchus, West African crocodile, desert or sacred crocodile
    • Genus Osteolaemus
      • Osteolaemus tetraspis, dwarf crocodile (There has been controversy as to whether or not this is actually two species; recent (2010) DNA analysis indicate three distinct species: O. tetraspis, O. osborni and a third, currently unnamed.)
    • Genus †Euthecodon
    • Genus †Rimasuchus (formerly Crocodylus lloydi)
    • Genus †Voay (formerly Crocodylus robustus)