Downloads: 1
Research Paper | Zoology Science | Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026 | Pages: 1058 - 1061 | India
Habitat Ecology and Intraspecific Variations in Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus Schneider, 1801 (Reptilia: Archosauria: Eusuchia: Crocodylia: Crocodylidae) in Two Contrasting Estuarine Ecosystems of Eastern India
Abstract: The estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), the largest extant reptile, occupies a wide range of coastal and estuarine habitats across the Indo-Pacific. We compared habitat ecology and population structure of C. porosus between two contrasting estuarine systems of eastern India: Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP, Odisha) and the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR, West Bengal). Field surveys conducted during March-April 2026 recorded 52 individuals across both sites, revealing marked intraspecific variation in size distribution, habitat utilization, and ecological pressures. Bhitarkanika, a relatively geomorphologically stable and semi-isolated estuarine system, exhibited higher population density, restricted trophic resources, and increased intraspecific competition. In contrast, the Sundarbans, a dynamic mega delta with strong marine connectivity and exchange, supported broader trophic niches, spatial dispersal, and reduced territorial conflict. We interpret these differences within the framework of trophic ecology, spatial ecology, and evolutionary adaptation, highlighting the role of habitat connectivity in shaping crocodilian population dynamics and conservation outcomes.
Keywords: estuarine crocodile, habitat ecology, population structure, trophic adaptation, crocodile conservation
How to Cite?: Debanik Mukherjee, M. Vijay, "Habitat Ecology and Intraspecific Variations in Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus Schneider, 1801 (Reptilia: Archosauria: Eusuchia: Crocodylia: Crocodylidae) in Two Contrasting Estuarine Ecosystems of Eastern India", Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1058-1061, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26517084457, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26517084457