Crocodiles in Islamorada 11-29-12

[deeper thoughts]

These photos were taken with an Iphone(not great pix). They were observed while kayaking. Yikes

 

[Chugwhump]

Very cool!!
I am no expert, but the first one looks like a 'Gator, and the second one does look like a North American Crocodile.
Are these pics of the same animal?
I know that Big Pine has a 'Gator sometimes in the Blue Hole on Big Pine.
There is also a population in the southern 'Glades and NE corner of Key Largo.
It also appears that there are some in the lagoon area of Turkey Point.
While I am sure they used to be there in the Keys before we showed up, I have never heard of one as far south as Islamorada.
I wonder if one wandered down from Flamingo on the Gulf Side?
I have never heard of an attack on humans in North America.

Chug
WHOAA!!!!
These things get to 20' long!!!!
American crocodile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[deeper thoughts]

Very cool!!
I am no expert, but the first one looks like a 'Gator, and the second one does look like a North American Crocodile.
Are these pics of the same animal?
I know that Big Pine has a 'Gator sometimes in the Blue Hole on Big Pine.
There is also a population in the southern 'Glades and NE corner of Key Largo.
It also appears that there are some in the lagoon area of Turkey Point.
While I am sure they used to be there in the Keys before we showed up, I have never heard of one as far south as Islamorada.
I wonder if one wandered down from Flamingo on the Gulf Side?
I have never heard of an attack on humans in North America.

Chug
WHOAA!!!!
These things get to 20' long!!!!
American crocodile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2 different ones, my brother in law took them and did say they are both Crocs. The kayak rental confrimed it. You may be right though I dont know

 

[PatW]

They both look like crocodiles to me. The mouth of a gator is "U" shaped. A crocodile has a mouth that is more "V" shaped. Another thing is that when an alligator has its mouth closed, the teeth are not visible. You can see the teeth on a crocodile even if its mouth is closed.

The other thing is gators are freshwater creatures. Crocodiles can handle fresh, brackish or salt water. If it is in the keys, I would think it would almost have to be a crocodile.

 

[reefman]

both crocs in my view. alligators only observed on big pine key(blue hole) and upper sections of card sound road and the 18 mile stretch prior to crossing the aerojet canal,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


reefman
key largo

 

[Reck Diver]

I've seen some monster crocks in Flamingo's back country. Not surprised the occasional one doesn't migrate to Key Largo. Will FWC relocate this one back where it belongs?

 

[mntlblok]

Pretty cool. But whenever I hear about gators and salt water, this pic comes to mind. . . American alligator and scuba diver | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[j2s]

Hard to tell from the pics, but croc's have been in the Keys [and Cuba, a sub-species known as Cuban Croc's] a long time........

 

[Chugwhump]

Pretty cool. But whenever I hear about gators and salt water, this pic comes to mind. . . American alligator and scuba diver | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

There is a video on Youtube somewhere showing that guy, some people, and that gator on Breakers Reef in about 55' off of the island of Palm Beach. I think it was about 3 years ago. I cannot find it.

Chug
Still amazed.

---------- Post added December 1st, 2012 at 09:57 PM ----------

Just found this one.

Palm Beach Gator - YouTube

Chug
Still searching.

---------- Post added December 1st, 2012 at 10:01 PM ----------

HA!!
GOT IT!!!

YouReport: Diver has rare encounter with alligator on Breakers reef

Chug
Very pleased at the moment.

 

[drrich2]

Cuban Crocodiles - Crocodylus rhombifer - look considerably different from American Crocodiles; here is a photo of one I took in recent years at Gatorland in the Orlando, Florida area.

Beautiful animals.

Richard.