View source for Crocodilurus

{{Short description|Genus of lizards}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Crocodile tegu
| image = Crocodilurus amazonicus Schinz.JPG
| image_caption = Artist's historical rendition.
| image2 =
| image2_caption = ''Crocodilurus amazonicus''.
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite journal |author=Martins, M. |author-link=species:Marcio Martins |date=2010 |title=''Crocodilurus amazonicus'' |journal=[[The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]] |volume=2010 |page=e.T178328A7524182 |publisher=[[IUCN]] |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178328A7524182.en |url=http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/178328/0 |access-date=14 January 2018|doi-access=free}}</ref>
| status2 = CITES_A2 
| status2_system = CITES 
| status2_ref = <ref>{{cite Species+ |id=4712 |title=''Crocodilurus amazonicus'' (Spix, 1825) |access-date=25 October 2025}}</ref>

| genus = Crocodilurus
| parent_authority = Spix, 1825<ref name="HUG">{{harvp|Harvey|Ugueto|Gutberlet|2012|pp=133,134}}</ref>
| species = amazonicus
| authority = [[Johann Baptist von Spix|Spix]], 1825<ref>{{harvp|de&nbsp;Massary|Hoogmoed|2001}}</ref>
}}

'''''Crocodilurus''''' is a [[monotypic genus|monotypic]] [[lizard]] genus consisting of one [[species]], '''''Crocodilurus amazonicus''''', belonging to the family [[Teiidae]] ([[tegu]]s, [[ameiva]]s and [[whiptail lizard|whiptails]]). Its common name is the '''crocodile tegu''', due to its appearance and fondness for water, and is locally known as the '''''jacarerana'''''. This [[semiaquatic|semi-aquatic]], predatory lizard has a flattened, paddle-like tail, enabling it to swim with ease.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=Martins-2006/>

==Figurative name==
The crocodile [[tegu]] has no close relation to [[crocodilian]]s. The name ''Crocodilurus amazonicus'' ("Amazonian little crocodile") is only an analogy: It is a predatory reptile well adapted to living and hunting in water.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}

==Distribution==
''C. amazonicus'' is found in the [[Amazon Basin]] and the [[Guiana Shield]] in South America.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=Martins-2006/>

==Diet==
''C. amazonicus'' [[Predation|preys]] upon [[arthropod]]s, fish, amphibians, and reptiles.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=Martins-2006>{{cite journal |author=Martins, M. |year=2006 |title=Life in the water: Ecology of the ''jacarerana'' lizard, ''Crocodilurus amazonicus'' |journal=Herpetological Journal |volume=16 |pages=171–177}}</ref>
[[File:Crocodilurus amazonicus 204896457 (cropped).jpg|center|frameless|659x659px|[[Amazonas (Brazilian state)|Amazonas]], [[Brazil]]]]

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |author=Avila-Pires, T.C.S. |author-link=species:Teresa Cristina Sauer de Ávila-Pires |year=1995 |title=Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata) |journal=[[Zoologische Verhandelingen]] |volume=299 |pages=1–706}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Harvey |first1=M.B. |author1-link=Michael Brown Harvey |last2=Ugueto |first2=G.N. |author2-link=Gabriel N. Ugueto |last3=Gutberlet |first3=R.L., Jr. |author3-link=Ronald Louis Gutberlet Jr. |year=2012 |title=Review of Teiid morphology with a revised taxonomy and phylogeny of the Teiidae (Lepidosauria: Squamata) |journal=[[Zootaxa]] |volume=3459 |pages=1–156}}
* {{cite journal |last1=de&nbsp;Massary |first1=J.C. |author1-link=species:Jean-Cristophe de Massary |last2=Hoogmoed |first2=M.S. |author2-link=species:Marinus Steven Hoogmoed |year=2001 |title=''Crocodilurus amazonicus'' {{small|(Spix, 1825)}}: The valid name for ''Crocodilurus lacertinus auctorum'' {{small|(nec Daudin, 1802)}} (Squamata: Teiidae) |journal=[[Journal of Herpetology]] |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=353–357}}
* {{cite book |last=von&nbsp;Spix |first=J.B. |author-link=Johann Baptist von Spix |year=1825 |title=Animalia nova sive species nova lacertarum quas in itinere per Brasiliam annis MDCCCXVII–MDCCCXX jussu et auspicius Maximiliani Josephi&nbsp;I Bavariae Regis suscepto collegit et descripsit Dr.&nbsp;J.B. de&nbsp;Spix |language=la |others=Lipsiae (Leipzig): T.O. Weigel |publisher=Monachii (Munich): F.S. Hübschmanni |url=https://archive.org/details/animalianovasive1825spix}} 4 unnumbered pages + 26 pp. + Plates I–XXVII. (''Crocodilurus'', new genus, p. 19; ''C. amazonicus'', new species, pp. 19–20 + Plate XXI) — original description.

==External links==
{{Wikispecies-inline}}
*{{eol|35562}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q14177459|from2=Q2698731}}

[[Category:Teiidae]]
[[Category:Monotypic lizard genera]]
[[Category:Lizards of Brazil]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Colombia]]
[[Category:Reptiles of French Guiana]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Peru]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Johann Baptist von Spix]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1825]]

{{Teiidae-stub}}