Cuban crocodiles grow to about 2 to 3.5 metres long - roughly the length of a small car. Their yellow and black patterned scales are much brighter than most crocodiles, making them some of the most striking reptiles on Earth. Scientists believe these patterns help them blend into the dappled light of the swamp, where patches of sunshine shine through the trees.
What makes Cuban crocodiles unusual is their behaviour. Most crocodiles are slow and stealthy, waiting in water for prey to come close. Cuban crocodiles are much more active - they can raise their bodies higher off the ground than most crocodiles, and they have been seen working together in small groups to hunt. This kind of team hunting is very rare among reptiles.
The Cuban crocodile lives only in the Zapata Swamp in southern Cuba. This wetland is huge - about the size of a small country - and it is home to many rare birds, fish and plants as well as crocodiles. Conservation programmes have helped Cuban crocodile numbers recover, and today visitors can see them in wildlife reserves on the island.