Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile) bite marks on a nest data logger

Stephanie K Drumheller; Jennifer H Nestler; Caitlin E Hackett Farris; Seth C Farris; Frank J Mazzotti

doi:10.7717/peerj.8577

Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile) bite marks on a nest data logger

PeerJ. 2020 Feb 17:8:e8577. doi: 10.7717/peerj.8577. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Stephanie K Drumheller¹, Jennifer H Nestler², Caitlin E Hackett Farris², Seth C Farris², Frank J Mazzotti²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States of America.
² Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States of America.

Abstract

Several data loggers deployed to monitor temperature and humidity of Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile) nests in South Florida could not be located after hatching. One badly damaged data logger was retrieved, providing insight into the possible fate of the others. Using a taphonomic approach, we identified numerous indentations, consistent with crocodylian bite marks, and inconsistent with potential mammalian or squamate bites. It seems most likely that the data logger was damaged by the nesting C. acutus rather than during attempted nest predation. Estimated bite forces for reproductive age, female C. acutus exceed the predicted material properties of the data logger's housing, suggesting that the bites were exploratory in nature. We suggest that data loggers be removed prior to hatching or permit remote data storage.

Keywords: Bite force; Crocodylia; Nest monitoring; Parental care; Tooth mark.

Grants and funding

Fieldwork was supported by the National Park Service. Examination of the data logger and preparation of the manuscript was supported by the Croc Docs (Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center) at the University of Florida. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.