| Crocodylus halli | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Archosauria |
| Order: | Crocodilia |
| Superfamily: | Crocodyloidea |
| Family: | Crocodylidae |
| Genus: | Crocodylus |
| Species: | C. halli |
| Binomial name | |
| Crocodylus halli | |
Crocodylus halli, also known asHall's New Guinea crocodile, is a species ofcrocodileendemic to the island ofNew Guinea. It is found on the southern half of the island, south of theNew Guinea highlands. It is named after Philip M. Hall, a researcher at theUniversity of Florida who performed the initial studies to clarify the species' distinctiveness.[2][3][4][5]
The species was formerly considered a distinct population of the closely relatedNew Guinea crocodile (C. novaeguineae), butgenetic analysis as well asmorphological analysis of its skull structure (namely thepostcrania andmaxilla) has supported it being classified as its own species. The two species likelydiverged within the last 3-8 million years, when the uplift of the New Guinea highlands created a barrier that divided them into separate populations. Despite the common ancestry of the two species, genetic analysis indicates that theNew Guinea crocodile may be more closely related to the putativeBorneo crocodile (C. raninus) than to Hall's New Guinea crocodile. This may indicate thatC. novaeguinae andC. raninus diverged from each other even more recently than their ancestor did fromC. halli, or that the specimen used forC. raninus was actually a misidentifiedC. novaeguinae.[2]
Below is acladogram based on a 2018tip dating study by Lee & Yates simultaneously usingmorphological, molecular (DNA sequencing), andstratigraphic (fossil age) data,[6] as revised in 2021 after apaleogenomics study using DNA extracted from the extinctVoay.[7]C. halli placement suggested in 2023 study by Sales-Oliveiraet al.[8]
| Crocodylus |
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The species occurs in swamps, rivers, and lakes in the southern half of New Guinea. It is known to occasionally enterestuaries, such as theFly River estuary. Variation is known from individuals across the range, with individuals fromLake Murray having a much wider skull than those from theAramia River.[2]
The species nests during New Guinea'swet season (November - April), in contrast toC. novaeguineae, which nests near the end of thedry season (July - November).[2]
Three captive crocodiles at theSt. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, formerly considered individuals ofC. novaeguinae, were actually found to beC. halli while the study was being conducted. These were used to substantiate observed differences betweenC. halli andC. novaeguinae.[2]
People in the city ofMerauke,South Papua, are also known for processing the skin of this species of crocodile into various kinds of leather crafts, which are quite economically valuable and renowned for their quality.[9]