The Cojedes contains the main population of Orinoco crocodiles .
The Cojedes River (Spanish Rio Cojedes ) is a tributary of the Orinoco River in central Venezuela . The Cojedes originates in Lara state, and flows southeast through a gap between the Cordillera de Mérida and the Cordillera de la Costa and across the Llanos grasslands of the Orinoco Basin to empty into the Apure River , which flows east to join the Orinoco. The river drains portions of the states of Lara, Yaracuy , Portuguesa , Cojedes , Barinas , and Guárico .
This river maintains the main Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius ) population, which is classified as critically endangered .[ 1] Yellow-spotted river turtle nests have also been found along the Cojedes River, and artificial nesting sites have been created to help conservation efforts for this species as well.[ 2]
References
^ Seijas, Andrés E; Chávez, Carlos (July 2000). "Population status of the Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) in the Cojedes river system, Venezuela" . Biological Conservation . 94 (3): 353–361. doi :10.1016/S0006-3207(99)00184-6 .
^ Hernández, Omar; Espinosa-Blanco, Ariel S.; C., May Lugo; Jiménez-Oraa, Magddy; Seijas, Andres E. (2010-11-18). "(PDF) Artificial incubation of yellow-headed sideneck turtle Podocnemis unifilis eggs to reduce losses to flooding and predation, Cojedes and Manapire Rivers, southern Venezuela" . Conservation Evidence Journal . Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. ISSN 1758-2067 . Retrieved 2024-02-15 .