Iranian corcodile in Iranzoo

Iranian Crocodile

Crocodylus palustris palustris

(COMMON NAMES: Gandu, Mugger, Marsh crocodile)

"GANDU" The Iranian Crocodile. Photo thanks to Mr. Sattar Kashani

In Iran, there is only one species that belongs to the family Crocodylidae and genus Crocodylus, namely Crocodylus palustris palustris. The local people of Baluchs in Iran call this crocodile as "GANDU".

DISTRIBUTION:
It lives in the Bahoo-Kalat River and several of its estuaries (Kajoo and Sarbaz)in the South East of Baluchestan of Iran. This location is the farthest eastern point in Asia.

HABITAT:
Freshwater rivers, lakes and marshes. Prefer deep, slow-moving, shallower areas. They have been reported to migrate considerable distances over land (several km) in search of more suitable habitat.

DIET:
In spite of its large body,Mugger lives on a tiny diet even 500g of meat a day. It feeds mainly on fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, often hunting at night. Large adults have been known to take livestock dogs and even people on occasions. Many years ago a six years old boy was drowned by a crocodile in Iran. Its activity increases from autumn to early spring when rainfall is higher as its life cycle is dependent on the river's abundant supply of water. During the cold seasons, it is often seen floating on the water, with only the top of its head and snout showing or lies basking in the sun at the river side. In the summer when rivers tend to dry, the Gandu lies in the mud at the bottom of the ponds formed until better conditions prevail. The Mugger is a fresh - water species.

BREEDING:
Iranian crocodiles are most likely to reach adulthood between 5(females)to10(males) years old. However, it should be noted that the brood is vulnerable as many of the eggs and young are hunted by mammals, birds and other reptiles,

Mugger in Pire Sohrab area in Baluchestan of Iran. photo froem the book "Tabiat Iran", thanks to: Mr. Arvand Pouladi

therefore few hatchings reach the age of adulthood. At the outset of the rainy season (from December to February) the female crocodile digs a hole, about 50 cm deep in the river bank and lays about 20-60 eggs and covers them with sand. Each egg is about 6.5 cm in length and 4 cm in width. The crocodile usually digs this hole in the ground above the level of any likely flooding and under cover of darkness. The female then spends most of her time around the nest to guard the eggs. After a relatively short period, usually 60 days, the eggs are ready to hatch but as the sand covering them might be too heavy, the mother runs to their help. It is worth noting that this species is the only Iranian reptile that has such a high level of maternal care. The young are around 20 cm long at hatching.

APPEARANCE:
The young crocodiles are seen as an olive colour with darker horizontal band on the sides of the body which gradually disappear during growth. At adult stage, they become a lighter brown colour with dark dispersed marks over the body. This is a medium to large species can reach a length of 3 to 4 m with the tail forming about half of this length. The short snout of mugger is the broadest mark of any member of the Crocodylus genus.

STATUS:
There is a small population of mugger crocodiles estimated to number between 100 and 200 individuals in the southeastern part of Iran in the Bahukalat protected area. It has been classified as being in danger of extinction, its importance has been brought to attention even more. Humans don't seem to harm the animals in Iran due to religious and social beliefs, people respect the Gandus and do not disturb them. This species was threatened in the past by unregulated hunting (of Pakistani hunters who were entering to Iran) for skins, but now the threats come from habitat destruction and drought, that has dried out most of the water bodies. In this situation some crocodiles move between Iran and adjacent Pakistan, the fact that needs more research for help to breeding and keep this animal in its habitat.

Sources:

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/brittoncrocs/csp_cpal.htm
Iran Nature and Wildlife Magazine
Iranian Newspapers (Hamshahri, Keyhan)

Special thanks to Mr. Sattar Kashani for helping us with information and photos of Crocodiles in Iran