Classification of the living species







There has been quite a lot of arguments in crocodylian science as to whether or not the three groups of crocodylians should be subfamilies and not simply families. Cladistic analysis seems to confirm the latter in that the three living groups of crocodylians are indeed part of separate families, though the validity of this is uncertain since cladistics denies the existence of ranks altogether. Furthermore there are still many areas on the net and in the literature that still refer to them as being subfamilies. With this in mind, this site's use of the three groups as families, might differ from other sites or books which consider them as only subfamilies. Though according to the above (simplified) cladogram, it is possible to have both; it would just depend on context.

The three different families of crocodylians include the CROCODYLIDAE which is home to the "true crocodiles" and comprises about 13 living species and three different genera, the ALLIGATORIDAE which are home to the alligators and caimans. This subfamily holds about seven species and four genera. Finally there is the GAVIALIDAE which is home to the strange Indian gharial. This family comprises only one living genus and species.

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Cladogram Refs:
Jack Conrad's Crocodylia cladogram
The Dinosauricon's crocodylomorph cladogram
The Eusuchia page at the Gaia site