Tissue-Specific Metal Accumulation in Two Crocodylusmoreletii from Southeastern Mexico: A Case-Based Assessment

Area of Science:

• Environmental toxicology
• Wildlife health
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Crocodylus moreletii, a protected species, faces environmental threats.
• Understanding heavy metal burdens is crucial for assessing population health.
• Limited toxicological data exists for this species in Southeastern Mexico.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify tissue-specific concentrations of cadmium, mercury, copper, and zinc in two deceased Morelet's crocodiles.
• To assess the potential of caudal scutes and plasma as non-destructive biomonitoring matrices.
• To compare findings with existing data and evaluate environmental contamination concerns.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of organs, plasma, and caudal scutes from two C. moreletii specimens.
• Utilized atomic absorption and voltammetry for metal quantification.
• Opportunistic sampling of deceased individuals.

Main Results:

• Extremely high cadmium (137.55 µg/g) and zinc (210.27 µg/g) concentrations detected in the juvenile female's kidney.
• Metal concentrations in scutes and plasma correlated with internal burdens.
• Detected metal levels among the highest reported for crocodylians.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest significant localized environmental contamination.
• Reinforces tissue-specific metal accumulation patterns in reptiles.
• Highlights the importance of biomonitoring in understudied tropical ecosystems for species conservation.