Reptiles on Stamps

Class Reptilia

Order Testudines (turtles and tortoises)

Order Sphenodontia (tuatara)

Northern tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)
Brothers Island tuatara (Sphenodon guntheri)

There are only two living species of tuatara and they are endemic to New Zealand.

Order Squamata (lizards and snakes)

Order Crocodilia

Family Gavialidae

Genus Gavialis
Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

Genus Tomistoma
False gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii)

Gharials are rare and only found in South Asia.

Family Alligatoridae

Genus Alligator
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)

Genus Paleosuchus
Cuvier’s dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)
Smooth-fronted caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus)

Genus Caiman
Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare)
Spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus)
Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris)

Genus Melanosuchus
Black caiman (Melanosuchus niger)

There are two living species of alligators and six living species of caimans. Alligators and caimans are recognized by their broad snout and the lower teeth which are not normally visible when the mouth is closed.

Family Crocodylidae

Genus Crocodylus
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)
Freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni)
Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii)
Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
Desert crocodile (Crocodylus suchus)
New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae)
Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)
Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)

Genus Mecistops
Slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)

Genus Osteolaemus
Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)

There are fourteen living species of crocodile. While crocodiles show a wide variation in snout shapes, they can be easily identified by the visibility of the fourth tooth of the lower jaw when the mouth is closed.

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