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Ophthalmology of Crocodilia: Alligators, Crocodiles, Caimans, and Gharials

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Wild and Exotic Animal Ophthalmology

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Abstract

Members of the Order Crocodilia, including alligators, crocodiles, and caiman are efficient diurnal creatures known for their proficient nocturnal hunting. As an apex predator, they do not often suffer trauma from attack; however, their eyes are anatomically situated on the dorsal aspect of their skull such that they can submerge themselves but leave their eyes above water to survey and inspect, which may make them more susceptible to injury. Most ophthalmic disease in Crocodilians involves the cornea or the uveal tract, with uveitis topping the list of clinically significant diagnoses. There is, however, a paucity of reports of clinical ophthalmic disease in Crocodilians.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Paoul S. Martinez & Caryn E. Plummer

Authors
  1. Paoul S. Martinez
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  2. Caryn E. Plummer
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Correspondence to Caryn E. Plummer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Veterinary Medicine Department, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil

    Fabiano Montiani-Ferreira

  2. College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Bret A. Moore

  3. College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

    Gil Ben-Shlomo

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Martinez, P.S., Plummer, C.E. (2022). Ophthalmology of Crocodilia: Alligators, Crocodiles, Caimans, and Gharials. In: Montiani-Ferreira, F., Moore, B.A., Ben-Shlomo, G. (eds) Wild and Exotic Animal Ophthalmology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71302-7_15

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