On the Occurrence of Crocodylus (Reptilia, Crocodilidae) in the Cayman Islands, British West Indies

A small crocodile tooth from a cave fossil deposit on Grand Cayman provides the first reliable record of a crocodilian from that island. Although the tooth is not diagnostic beyond the generic level, it is referable to Crocodylus. Previous accounts of crocodile sightings in the Cayman Islands from both the herpetological and historical literature are reviewed and their reliability commented upon. The present recrod, in addition to a comparatively modern specimen of C. acutus from Little Cayman, confirms the former presence of crocodiles in the Cayman Islands. The lack of sightings or specimens of Crocodylus from the Caymans in the past 40 years provides strong evidence that crocodiles no longer occur in that island group.