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1977; Werner 1933). Medem and Marx (1955) provided one ofthe first keys to the living New World species of crocodilians.Comprehensive papers on the species identification of living crocodilians,directed toward live animals and visible physical morphology,appeared in the 1970s (Brazaitis 1971, 1973a, 1973b).What appeared to be lacking were behavioral, natural history,and reproductive data. One of the earliest comprehensive reportson observations and natural history of a crocodilian was made byE. A. McIlhenny of Louisiana in his classic work, The Alligator’sLife History, first published in 1935, and reprinted in 1987.McIlhenny reported shooting and killing one of the largest wildalligators ever recorded, 584 cm in length, on January 2, 1890.Probably the most knowledgeable group of crocodilian expertsof the 1800s and early 1900s was composed of the hide huntersand crocodilian skin dealers who derived their livelihoods andprofits from knowing where and when to find crocodiles. Theyhad to know basic crocodilian behavior and habits if they were toavoid being killed or maimed during the course of their dangerousnightly work of hunting crocodiles. Some crocodile entrepreneursput their knowledge to use to short-circuit the problem of havingto spend numerous uncomfortable nights in mosquito-infestedswamps to capture only a handful of crocodiles, or none, by startingcrocodile farms in the hope of breeding the animals and increasingmanyfold the number of skins they could have availableto sell. Rather than sharing their knowledge, much of what theyknew about crocodilian reproduction and behavior was kept secret,lest a competitor out-produce them.Collections of living crocodilians were generally confined toconsiderably less than natural circumstances of captivity in privateroadside attractions, circuses, and zoos, and they were managedby entertainment entrepreneurs. The Saint Augustine AlligatorFarm, St. Augustine, Florida, opened to the public in May,1893, is the oldest major exhibitor of crocodilians in the UnitedStates. The name is a misnomer as it was never a “farm” for breedingand producing alligators. The Alligator Farm, as it is still locallyreferred to, is now a registered national historical site andexhibits all of the 23 generally accepted species of crocodiliansunder natural conditions. The Alligator Farm is considered a worldcenter for crocodilian study, reproductive biology, and conservation,and serves as an important repository and bank for crocodiliansthat are potentially part of captive endangered species breedingprograms.Zoos probably contributed least to the then-known lexicon ofcrocodilian knowledge. Space was limited and better devoted tolarge mammals and colorful birds that were more in the public orzoo director’s interest. In the 1800s, exotic birds already enjoyeda great scientific following, augmented by a global cadre of seriouscollectors and breeders of live birds, who produced a wealthof scientific and popular writings. We knew a lot about birds andmammals, including that crocodiles were prone to eat some of ourfavorite species. Reptiles, including crocodilians, were usuallyreviled by the average zoo visitor, who wished only to see themFIG. 1. Original floor plan of the reptile house. The alligator pools are major exhibits at the left, at the west end of the building. They are referred toas “The West Pools.”Herpetological Review 39(2), 2008 137