‘Rare sighting:’ 8-foot-long American crocodile spotted on Brevard County beach

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – An American crocodile made a rare appearance along a beach in Brevard County on Sunday, according to the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program.

In a Facebook post, staff said the 8-foot-long crocodile was seen in front of the Barrier Island Center in Melbourne Beach.

[TRENDING: Historic Orlando ice cream shop Goff’s Drive In closing, owner hopes to find new location | Universal Orlando announces new Minions Land, complete with attraction and café | Become a News 6 Insider]

According to the post, American crocodiles typically live in coastal areas throughout the Caribbean, so it was unusual to see one as north as Brevard County.

Alligators and crocodiles are both part of the group of reptiles called crocodilians. Florida is the only place where the two species of crocodilians native to the United States, the American alligator and American crocodile, naturally co-exist, according to the National Park Service.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: