Caracterização biométrica de filhotes de Jacaré-açu (melanosuchus niger) da reserva de desenvolvimento sustentável mamirauá (rdsm), Amazonas, Brasil

Abstract

The lengthof the puppies crocodilian hatchlings can be influenced by several factors such as incubation temperature, the size of the female, nest typeandgeographic variations. Morphometric analysisis one of the methods that have been used by various researchers to describe various aspects of the biology of crocodilians as sexual dimorphism, allometric relationships, differences between species. Thus, the present study aimed to describe biometric characteristics of newly hatched chicks of Melanosuchus niger of Sustainable Development Reserve Mamirauá (RDSM). Biometric measurementsweretaken11puppiesblack caiman(N =251)from seven water bodies (six lakes and a pipe) three sectors of RDSM. The total length (TL) average puppies black caiman hatchlings was30.25cm (± 11.38). Using thet test Stundent found that no significant difference (p>0.05) for CT of individuals between the three sectors, but significant difference between the nests(p <0.05). The CT of a young black caiman is seven times the size of the head; correlating CT with other measures found a positive correlation between the variables. The relation ship of the variables Total Length (CT) /Head length (CCA) showed higher correlation.