Shark Attack?
Photo credit: Primeroennoticias.com
Discussion
The unfortunate surfer in this photograph was paddling across a river mouth Tamarindo, Costa Rica when he was bitten in the lower leg, not by a shark, but by a crocodile. Costa Rica is somewhat notorious for having a healthy population of large crocodiles living in marine estuaries and tidal rivers. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) inhabits a range from Venezuela, through central America and into Mexico, including Puerto Rico and the southern tip of Florida. Mature males reach 16 feet in length and weigh about 900 lbs, though individuals weighing as much as 2000 have been reported.
Range of the American Crocodile
This species thrives in brackish and salt water environments and occasionally ventures out to sea. They usually feed on fish, birds, turtles and small mammals, caught on riverbanks or near shore. Attacks by the American crocodile on surfers are quite rare but have been reported, including at least 2 others in Tamarindo.
The marine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), found in Northern Australia and the Indo Pacific is the largest reptile on earth, and is considerable more aggressive and responsible for more fatalities than its American counterpart.
Crocodiles are stealthy predators and are usually unnoticed by their victims. They often latch on to an extremity and attempt to drag the victim under water. The surfer in this case suffered from a massive soft tissue wound with an open tibia fracture and vascular injuries which led to a below-the-knee amputation.
