Grypoeus salsavadisae
| Inyurstan Crocodile | |
|---|---|
| |
| Grypoeus salsavadisae | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia
|
| Phylum: | Chordata
|
| Class: | Reptilia
|
| Order: | Crocodilia
|
| Family: | Gavialidae
|
| Genus: | Grypoeus
|
| Species: | G. salsavadisae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Grypoeus salsavadisae Archíe, 1936
| |
| File:Gavial range.jpg | |
| Range of G. salsavadisae in La Ameripacha Libre | |
Grypoeus salsavadisae, commonly known as the Grypo, or more formally the Estuarine Grypo; and sometimes as the Inyurstan False Gharial is a small-sized species of Gryposuchine crocodilian found in salt and brackish environments in Inyursta. Formally described in 1936, this species was informally portrayed in colonial sketches and pre-colonial Coacuendo and Rimta'alan paintings and tapestries as a smaller, longer-snouted creature which primarily preys on fish.
Physical Description
An iconic and readily-recognizable species, the Grypo has an exceedingly elongated snout and three rows of tall scutes running from behind the neck down to the tail. G. salsavadisae can be distinguished from other extant species of Grypoeus by the presence of two "horn-like" upturned scutes over both the eyes and nostrils. The hind legs are proportionally larger than the front legs, a suspected adaptation to allow quick "leaps" into deeper water or out of the water onto shore.
On average, adult males reach approximately 7ft (2.1m), but the recorded for largest recorded sits at exactly 10ft(3m) flat. Only marginally smaller, the females average around 6ft (1.8m) as adults, but like males can reach larger sizes. Females have proportionally smaller snouts than males.
Habitat
Like most other Gryposuchinae, this species is well-adapted to saltwater environments. Typically, it is found in areas with shallow water and open, sandy bottoms. DeBron et al. (2016) found a strong correlation between water clarity and presence of this species; implying that selection for open sand is actually a byproduct of selection for specific near-shore environments which see clear tidal or riverine flows.
Female nesting habitat consists of shaded, dry banks with deep sandy soil.
Prey
Fish species make up the primary prey for Grypos. Schooling, near-shore species such as mullet and lady-fish compromise >90% of this species diet. A few cases of larger prey such as tarpon and even nurse sharks have been recorded. Juveniles are known to prey on crustaceans such as crabs and lobster found in more protected areas, e.g. mangrove forests & salt marshes.