Scute Patterns as an Individual Identification Tool in an American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Population on Coiba Island, Panama

Researchers have demonstrated that the unique scute patterns on the backs of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) can serve as a reliable individual identification tool. By analyzing 110 wild-caught crocodiles from Coiba Island, Panama, they found significant variability in both the number and arrangement of dorsal scutes per individual. Using binary and coded analyses of transverse scute lines (TSL), they successfully identified each crocodile with high precision, requiring only the first 13 or 10 TSLs for accurate recognition. The probability of pattern repetition was extremely low—one in 49,504 for binary analysis and one in 3,333 for coded analysis—suggesting this method could uniquely identify every crocodile on Coiba Island, where the population is estimated at no more than 1,000 individuals. This study introduces a novel non-invasive approach for wildlife monitoring, particularly valuable for conservation efforts in UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Coiba National Park.

Balaguera-Reina, S. A., Venegas-Anaya, M., Rivera-Rivera, B., & III, L. D. D. (2017). Scute Patterns as an Individual Identification Tool in an American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Population on Coiba Island, Panama. Journal of Herpetology, 51(4), 523–531. https://doi.org/10.1670/17-023