Siamese Crocodile

What is a Siamese crocodile?

The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is a medium-sized crocodilian native to freshwater habitats in Southeast Asia, including parts of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Borneo. Typically reaching lengths of up to 4 meters (13.1 feet), this species is characterized by an olive or green coloration and a broad snout with relatively flat nostrils.¹

Listed as a critically endangered species by the IUCN since 1996, the Siamese crocodile faces severe threats from habitat loss due to dam construction and historical overhunting for its meat and hides. With fewer than 1,000 wild individuals remaining, the species’ long-term survival is further complicated by hybridization with other crocodile species on commercial farms.¹²

Ethical conservation efforts are vital to prevent the extinction of this species, as human-driven environmental pressures continue to threaten its remaining wild populations.²

Where do Siamese crocodiles live?

The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is native to freshwater habitats across Southeast Asia. Its range includes:

• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Peninsular Malaysia
• The island of Borneo¹

Within these regions, they inhabit freshwater streams, lakes, and swamps. Due to significant habitat loss caused by the construction of hydroelectric dams and other human pressures, the remaining wild populations are small and widely separated. Currently, the largest breeding populations are found in Cambodia and Laos.¹

What does the Siamese crocodile look like?

The Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is a medium-sized crocodilian that typically reaches a maximum length of 4 meters (13.1 feet) and a weight of 350 kg (772 pounds), though most adults are smaller, measuring less than 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) in length.¹

Its physical appearance is defined by several distinct features:

• Coloration: The scales on the top and sides of the body are olive or green, while the underside is lighter in color.¹
• Head and Snout: The top of the head features a bony crest behind each eye. The snout is broad and contains two flattened nostrils, which are notably less elevated and less pronounced than those found in many other crocodilian species.¹
• Body Structure: Like other members of the order Crocodilia, its body is covered in a regular pattern of scales, with thick, bony plates present on the back.¹³

Adult males of the species tend to be slightly longer and heavier than adult females.¹

What do Siamese crocodiles eat?

Siamese crocodiles are predatory animals that hunt both on land and in the water. Their diet is varied and consists primarily of vertebrates, including:

• Fish
• Frogs
• Snakes
• Birds
• Mammals

In addition to hunting live prey, they also scavenge carrion.¹