Crocodiles are semi-aquatic predators, belong to the order of aquatic vertebrates and are considered the largest individuals of the group of reptiles. There are more than twenty species in the order of crocodiles, among which are the caiman and the alligator. These cold-blooded animals live in tropical and subtropical latitudes, regardless of the continent: they can be seen in America, Africa (the largest is the Nile crocodile), Asia and Oceania (the largest crocodile in the world, the saltwater crocodile, lives here).

Crocodiles appeared more than 250 million years ago and are direct descendants of dinosaurs (a subclass of archosaurs).

True, their ancestors were larger: their length reached thirteen meters. One more interesting fact about crocodiles is that over the past millennia this species has changed little in appearance, and therefore, being closer to dinosaurs than to modern reptiles, its representatives are unique animals that give some idea of ​​what the ancient inhabitants of our planet looked like.

Crocodiles share a common land ancestor with birds. Even in some features of their internal structure they are much closer to birds than to reptiles.

Description

Having adapted to water, crocodiles acquired the corresponding appearance: their head is flat, with a very long muzzle, their body is flattened, and their legs are very short. The toes are connected to each other by swimming membranes (there are five on the front paws, four on the hind paws: the little finger is missing).

The reptile's eyes are located on the head in such a way that only the eyes and nostrils are visible above the surface (this allows them to remain unnoticed by prey). When the animal goes under water, its nostrils and ears close with valves, and the eye has a third transparent eyelid, thanks to which the reptile sees perfectly under water and does not experience any difficulties. Since the mouth of crocodiles, due to the absence of lips, does not close completely to prevent water from entering the stomach, the entrance to the esophagus, when the animal is in water, is blocked by the velum palatine.

The elongated shape of the body allows the reptile to excellently maneuver in the aquatic environment, and the animal uses a flat and strong tail instead of a motor organ. The length of the reptile, depending on the species, ranges from one and a half to six and a half meters. The largest crocodile of the reptiles captured and measured is a saltwater crocodile: it is 6.4 meters long, weighs more than a ton and lives in the Philippine Islands.

But the smallest crocodile lives in the west of equatorial Africa: the length of a land crocodile ranges from one and a half to two meters.

The greenish-brown color of the reptile helps it to camouflage perfectly in the water. Depending on the temperature of the environment, the skin of a reptile can change color (the hotter it is, the greener it is). The skin of a crocodile is covered with durable horny rectangular plates that hold tightly throughout the life of the reptile: unlike many reptiles, crocodiles do not shed, and their skin grows along with the body (they grow throughout their lives).

Reptile temperature

Like all reptiles, crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, and their body temperature ranges from 30 to 35 degrees. Although the body temperature of these reptiles depends on water and air, it still differs from their indicators. Unlike many freshwater animals, the crocodile has a four-chambered heart (however, when leaving the ventricles, oxygen-rich arterial blood partially mixes with venous blood, where there is little oxygen).

The horny plates on the skin of a crocodile heat up during the day and collect heat, which allows maintaining metabolism at a fairly high level. Therefore, the temperature of a predator, regardless of the time of day, is almost always the same (in summer its fluctuations are about 1°C, in winter – 1.5°C, in small animals – about 5°C).

They should also not be confused with warm-blooded representatives of the animal world, since their own metabolism maintains a constant body temperature, while crocodiles maintain it due to their large size, large mass and specific behavior (basking in the sun, cooling in water). Therefore, larger specimens exhibit less fluctuations in body temperature than smaller specimens.

Difference from an alligator

What distinguishes crocodiles from their closest relatives, alligators, is primarily the structure of their teeth: when the mouth is closed, the fourth tooth is visible on the lower jaw, while in alligators no teeth are visible at all. The structure of the muzzle is also different: in alligators it is blunter, in crocodiles it is sharper.

Crocodiles have the best salt metabolism: they remove excess salts through the glands located on the tongue, as well as through the lacrimal glands (the famous “crocodile tears”). Thanks to this, they are able to live not only in river water, but also in sea water, while alligators can only live in fresh water. Among crocodiles there are species that live both here and there, for example, despite the fact that the Nile crocodile prefers to live in rivers and lakes, it is also often found near the sea coast, in river mouths.

Way of life

Crocodiles prefer to live mainly in fresh water bodies, and some species: Nile crocodile, combed crocodile, African narrow-snouted crocodile are found near the sea coast. These animals spend all their time in the water, coming to land in the morning or evening to bask in the sun and accumulate heat in their horny plates. For example, the Nile crocodile prefers air temperatures from 32 to 35 °C; if the readings are higher, it does not even show up on land. During drought, some species of crocodiles dig holes at the bottom of drying reservoirs and hibernate.

On land, these animals are inactive and clumsy, so they prefer to move exclusively in water. If necessary, they are able to move to another body of water through land, covering several kilometers.

It is interesting that they usually move with their legs spread wide apart, then developing speed (no more than 11 km/h for short distances), the reptiles place their paws under their body. But in water, reptiles swim much faster, at a speed of about 40 km/h. Despite their impressive size, they are quite capable of jumping two meters out of the water.

Crocodiles live in packs, and this life is unique: they are quite capable of eating their relatives, and the males often destroy the babies. In each group there is a dominant male, who jealously guards his territory from individuals as large as himself, emitting a loud roar. These reptiles are able to express their emotions in various ways: they hiss, grunt, growl and even croak hoarsely.

Hunting and food

Despite the fact that crocodiles prefer to hunt at night, during the day, if the prey is not far from them, they do not leave it without attention. They receive information about a potential victim thanks to receptors located on their jaws, which are able to sense prey located even at a great distance.

They feed mainly on fish, but if they come across other prey that they can handle, they hunt that too. How dangerous they are to humans depends on the species. For example, the Nile crocodile is a cannibal, but the gharial (also large) is absolutely not dangerous.

The food preferences of a crocodile largely depend on its age and size: young individuals prefer invertebrate animals, adults prefer amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, and birds.

But large individuals (the same Nile crocodile) are able to cope even with victims that are significantly larger than them in size: the Nile crocodile catches wildebeest when they cross rivers during migration, the combed predator opens a hunt for cattle during the rainy season, the Madagascan one succeeds catch a lemur, and in search of water he crawls into caves (during drought it can only be found here). If necessary, these animals are capable of eating their own relatives.

These reptiles cannot chew, and therefore, having caught the victim, they dismember it with their teeth and swallow it in parts. If the food is too large for this, they can leave it at the bottom for a while and wait until it gets soggy. The animal is helped to cope with food by swallowing stones, which grind the food. These stones are often quite large in size: it is known for sure that the Nile crocodile is capable of swallowing a five-kilogram block.

Crocodiles eat carrion very rarely, and they cannot tolerate rotten food at all. Reptiles eat a lot: at a time they are able to swallow food weighing about 25% of their body weight. Since 60% of food is stored in fat, if necessary, they are able to fast for one to one and a half years.

Reproduction

Considering that crocodiles live from 50 to 110 years, they reach sexual maturity quite early: at the age of 8 to 10 years. Crocodiles are polygamous animals: a male may well have a harem of twelve females.

The female does not give birth, but lays eggs (about fifty eggs per night). To do this, she goes to the coast and digs a hole, the size of which largely depends on the illumination: deeper in the sun, shallower in the shade, and then covers it with sand or leaves. It takes about three months for the eggs to hatch. The female spends all this time near them, without going anywhere and not even feeding.

Who exactly will hatch depends largely on the air temperature: if they exceed 32°C, a male will appear, from 28 to 30°C - a female. Before breaking the shell, one or the other small crocodile begins to make grunting sounds. This is a signal for the female, and she first digs them out, then rolls them in her mouth and releases the babies.

The crocodiles that are born are small: their length is only 28 centimeters. At a time, the mother collects about two dozen babies in her mouth and transfers them to a pre-selected small reservoir, where they spend about eight weeks, after which they scatter around the surrounding area in search of reservoirs unoccupied by other crocodiles. Because of this, the mortality rate among crocodiles is very high: many are eaten by birds, monitor lizards and other predators. Those that survive, as they grow older, first feed on insects, then begin to catch frogs and fish from reservoirs, and from the age of ten they begin hunting large vertebrates.

Reptiles and people

Speaking about crocodiles, it is better for a person to take into account that it is better for him to avoid encounters with these animals: almost all of them are dangerous for humans. True, there are species that never attack people (gharial), while others do this at every opportunity (combed one).

Hunting crocodiles in their habitats is also popular: their meat is eaten, and their skin is used to create textiles and haberdashery. As soon as products made from crocodile skin became popular in fashion, the number of animals began to decline very quickly: the hunt for crocodiles did its job.

According to data, in the 20s of the last century, about a million reptiles were killed annually in South America alone, so if governments had not come to their senses in time and in the forties had not passed laws according to which hunting crocodiles was prohibited, they would have been destroyed long ago. Also, the largest crocodile in Africa, the Nile crocodile, disappeared from its usual habitats, and captive breeding saved the Indian gharial from complete extinction (today there are about 1.5 thousand individuals).

Another factor that puts these reptiles on the brink of extinction in South America and Asia is the construction of dams. To build them, huge areas of forests were cut down, as a result of which many reservoirs where crocodiles lived dried up.

This situation is alarming not only because a unique species is dying out, but also because with the disappearance of these animals the ecosystem of the region is disrupted. For example, in Florida, crocodiles hunt pike, which, without a natural enemy, would destroy all valuable fish, primarily bream and perch. These reptiles enable many animals to survive drought: water accumulates in the holes they dig, forming small reservoirs where, during drought, fish find refuge, and animals and birds come to drink.

If you are interested in crocodiles and just want to see them in the wild, then this article is for you. Here we will tell you about the places where you can see these amazing reptiles in the wild.

Crocodiles in Australia

If you are keen to see large crocodiles in the wild, then Australia is the country to go to. This continent is famous for the largest living crocodiles - saltwater crocodiles. This reptile reaches a length of more than 6 meters and weighs more than a ton.

If in many countries you can see crocodiles mainly in nature reserves and National Parks, then in Australia these reptiles have inhabited almost all the rivers of the northern coast of the country. Crocodiles are not only found in wild areas, but are often caught in areas densely populated by people. For example, in Fanny Bay, on the shores of which the largest city in the Northern Territories of Australia, Darwin, is located.

In Australia there are National Parks and Nature Reserves, and simply crocodile parks, where saltwater crocodiles can be seen in the wild. In some areas, special shows with feeding these reptiles are organized for tourists.

For thrill-seekers, the special Crocosaurus Cove crocodile park in the center of Darwin offers the Cage of Death attraction. Those who want to tickle their nerves in a special glass cage (made of very durable glass) are immersed in a pool with huge crocodiles. Daredevils can watch these huge cannibals at arm's length.

For lovers of Africa, the National Parks of the Republic of South Africa cordially open their doors. Those who want to observe crocodiles in the wild are recommended to go to the Kruger National Park and Mapungubwe National Park.

In South Africa you can observe Nile crocodiles. They are slightly smaller than their Australian brothers, but no less bloodthirsty. Large individuals can reach lengths of more than 5 meters and weigh up to a ton.

Here, of course, you will not be offered the same conditions as in Australia, but you can observe reptiles while sailing along the river in a comfortable pleasure boat.

Crocodiles in Uganda

If South Africa is a Europeanized Africa, then in Uganda you can see a piece of untouched Africa.

Crocodiles can be seen here in National Parks and Nature Reserves. To do this, you can visit Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.

Crocodiles in Uganda can be observed during river and lake tours. There are a great variety of reptiles here, so there will be no shortage of thrills.

Crocodiles in Thailand

If you want to not only look at crocodiles, but also taste them, then your path goes straight to Thailand. It is in this Asian country that there are a huge number of crocodile farms where crocodiles are raised for their valuable skin and meat.

Don’t think about it, there are still crocodiles in the wild in Thailand, and there are even tours in some reserves where tourists can see these reptiles in the wild.

But if you really want to see the show and taste a crocodile, then you should definitely visit one of the crocodile farms. Experienced Thai trainers will show you an unforgettable show, and virtuoso chefs will prepare dishes with amazing taste.

Alligators in the USA

Alligators differ from real crocodiles in their calmer disposition, although they are often not inferior in size to their aggressive relatives. In the United States, common crocodiles are found, but alligators dominate. If you want to see alligators, you should visit the states of Florida and Louisiana.

For those who like “very thrills”, it is recommended to visit the Swamp of Ghosts in Louisiana. This place is located near New Orleans. The place itself evokes terrible fear. According to legend, it was cursed by the black voodoo queen at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, many of the settlements along the swamp have died out, and now only the ruins of houses stand. And huge alligators came to the places where people once lived.

During an airboat tour of the park, you can see hundreds of alligators. And then a bright show awaits you, during which an experienced presenter will tell and show what you should do if you had to encounter an alligator or crocodile in the wild.

How much does it cost?

If you are going to see crocodiles in the wild, you should understand that this pleasure is not cheap.

The most affordable option is Thailand. With a departure from Kyiv or Moscow, such a tour can cost $1000-1200 per person.

After it comes the USA. Such a trip can cost $1200-1500 per person. Although the cost of the flight is approximately the same, and maybe even less, than to Thailand, the cost of living in the country will be more expensive.

Next on the list are Uganda and South Africa. The cost of such a trip will be $2000-2500 per person.

And Australia will cost the most. Due to the remoteness of this country from Kyiv or Moscow, air tickets will be quite expensive. The cost of such a trip will be $2500-3500 per person.

When is the best time to go see crocodiles?

You can go to Thailand at almost any time of the year. The climate there is stable, and tourists are welcome all year round.

The same situation is in the USA. Although due to Atlantic hurricanes, it is not recommended to visit Florida and Louisiana in August-September.

It is better to go to Uganda in the middle of winter or summer. The country is located on the equator and has a fairly stable temperature climate. And spring and autumn are the rainy seasons.

You can go to South Africa at any time of the year.

But it’s better to go to Australia in May-September. The rest of the time there is intense heat, and there is a high probability of forest fires, or rainy seasons, when large areas are flooded and movement around the area is difficult.

Crocodiles have inhabited our planet for 250 million years. They survived dinosaurs and others because they were able to adapt to changes in living conditions. The evolution of these reptiles led to them becoming large amphibious predators. The crocodile frightens and at the same time attracts attention. We will tell you where the predator lives and what it eats in this article.

Why have crocodiles been around for so long?

All these many millions of years, crocodiles lived in the tropics and subtropics, settling in bodies of fresh water. Because their habitat remained virtually unchanged for a long time, crocodiles have remained virtually unchanged since ancient times. After the huge dinosaurs and others became extinct, crocodiles had no dangerous enemies left, and they became masters of their habitats. New predators from among warm-blooded animals, such as lions, tigers, leopards, and so on, had a different habitat and could not exterminate crocodiles. Well, they, in turn, being strongly tied to bodies of water, were not able to expand their possessions.

The most terrible and deadly enemy for crocodiles was man. Reptiles were killed for two main reasons. The first is fear of a predator clad in a strong shell with a huge toothy mouth. The second reason is mercantile. has become a very valuable material for making shoes, handbags and other leather products. Some peoples who eat reptile meat and eggs for food have contributed to the reduction in the crocodiles population. Where do crocodiles live and what do they eat? This is the question that all children ask when they see this reptile for the first time.

Who are called crocodiles?

Currently, all crocodiles are classified into three families:

1. Real crocodiles.
2. Alligators.
3. Gharials.

Zoologists consider Caymans to be one of the species of the alligator family. In total, 23 species of crocodiles are known and described. Each of them has its own habitat and food system. Scientists have long been interested in the crocodile - where it lives, how it reproduces and whether it poses a danger to humans. All these questions were asked regularly, and in order to get answers, it was necessary to observe the animal for a long time.

Such different reptiles

Representatives of different families differ from each other primarily in the shape of the muzzle and teeth. In real crocodiles, the muzzle is narrow and elongated; the fourth tooth of the lower jaw is visible when the mouth is closed. Alligators and caimans have a wide and oval head; when the mouth is closed, the teeth are not visible, since they are covered by the upper jaw. Gharials are distinguished by a very thin and elongated muzzle. There are other small differences, such as the length of the teeth, the shape and location of the skin scutes, and so on.

The body of caimans and gharials is far from perfect, like that of all amphibians and fish. It is unable to maintain the body's thermal regime. All these reptiles can only live in hot climates and warm water. They maintain body heat balance by immersing themselves in water or going ashore to bask in the sun. The salt metabolism of these reptiles is very poorly developed, so they live in fresh waters. Only true crocodiles have salt-exchanging glands. The process of removing salts through is called “crocodile tears”.

Reproduction and nutrition

Crocodiles spend most of their time in the water, but they lay eggs in a nest on the shore. They breathe atmospheric air through their nostrils. The powerful jaws of crocodiles are filled with large and sharp teeth, but the crocodile cannot chew food. He is capable of dragging a very large animal underwater, drowning it, and then tearing large pieces from the carcass and swallowing them whole. Reptiles are very voracious, but can go without food for a long time, since their vital processes are slowed down. Yet crocodiles are patient hunters and ruthless killers. They are able to patiently wait for prey for a long time, sneak up on it unnoticed and silently, and then with a swift throw grab it and hold it with their jaws until it dies. Crocodiles do not disdain carrion, for this they are sometimes called water cleaners.

Where can you find crocodiles?

The characteristics of behavior, nutrition and development of reptiles are determined by where the crocodile lives and in what zone it lives.

The saltwater crocodile is the only species that can live in the salt water of seas and oceans. It is distributed over a vast territory - from the southern coast of Asia to the coast of Australia. It can be found off the coast of India, on the islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans, in the north of Australia. This largest crocodile reaches a length of 6 meters or more and weighs about 1 ton. It feeds on animals, fish, that is, any representatives of the animal world that attract its attention. There are known cases of attacks on white sharks, large animals, including horses, tigers, and so on. Cases of saltwater crocodile attacks on people have been recorded. Now you know how this crocodile differs from the rest, where it lives and what it eats.

The Mississippi alligator lives in the southeastern United States. These reptiles are especially abundant in the swamps of Florida. Lives only in fresh water. It feeds on all living creatures that live nearby. Snakes, turtles, fish, birds and small mammals are included in its diet. A hungry alligator can come close to people's homes and attack small dogs and small pets. capable of digging small ponds. On the banks of these ponds, females make nests and lay eggs in them. In cool weather, alligators lose activity and are half asleep. Males are larger than females and reach lengths of up to 4-4.5 meters. People walk carefully in areas where crocodiles live.

In which country are these animals considered sacred? Previously, Egyptian residents treated these animals with trepidation. Today the situation has changed - they are trying to avoid predators.

Crocodile fisherman

The gharial lives only in the rivers of the Hindustan Peninsula. The only species that has survived to this day is called the Ghanaian gharial. There are no others anymore. Gharials have an elongated muzzle, very long jaws with many teeth. This allows them to hunt fish effectively. The length of the gharial reaches 4.5 meters, there are almost 100 teeth in its mouth. But despite its large size, it does not attack large animals and people, since, thanks to the structure of its jaws, it is more of a fisherman than a hunter. Of all the reptiles of the crocodile order, the gharial spends the most time in water, and sometimes even manages to acquire shells. In addition to fish, it can also feed on small animals and carrion.

Such a crocodile is not dangerous for humans. Where this animal lives, you can often find small villages; people are not afraid of such a neighborhood.

All representatives of the crocodile family, having existed on Earth for millions of years, have found their niche in the animal world. As predators, they perform their function as orderlies of water bodies and coastal areas. They clear their territory of sick and weak animals, as well as their decaying corpses. Crocodiles and alligators do not expand their domain by capturing new territories and living spaces. Their fights with other predators are random and occur mainly at watering holes. Victory or defeat in these battles does not mean a redistribution of territory. But the life and further existence of crocodiles now depend only on humans. They have no natural enemies in nature. People don't like to go to places where crocodiles live. The country of America is inhabited by these animals; many residents see these creatures as an object for profit. Their skin brings in good income. But those who are not connected with the crocodile for profit try not to disturb this predator.

The most highly organized reptiles - this title (due to complex anatomy and physiology) is held by modern crocodiles, whose nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems have no equal.

Description of the crocodile

The name goes back to the ancient Greek language. “Pebble worm” (κρόκη δεῖλος) - the reptile received this name due to the similarity of its dense scales to coastal pebbles. Crocodiles, oddly enough, are considered not only close relatives of dinosaurs, but also of all living birds. The order Crocodilia now consists of true crocodiles, alligators (including caimans) and gharials. Real crocodiles have a V-shaped snout, while they have a blunt, U-shaped snout.

Appearance

The dimensions of the representatives of the detachment vary significantly. Thus, a blunt-nosed crocodile rarely grows more than one and a half meters, but some individuals of saltwater crocodiles grow up to 7 meters or more. Crocodiles have an elongated, somewhat flattened body and a large head with an elongated muzzle, set on a short neck. The eyes and nostrils are located on the top of the head, due to which the reptile breathes and sees well when the body is immersed in water. In addition, the crocodile can hold its breath and sits under water for 2 hours without rising to the surface. It is recognized, despite its small brain volume, as the most intelligent among reptiles.

This is interesting! This cold-blooded reptile has learned to warm up its blood through muscle tension. Muscles engaged in work raise the temperature so that the body becomes warmer environment by 5-7 degrees.

Unlike other reptiles, whose body is covered with scales (small or larger), the crocodile acquired horny scutes, the shape and size of which create an individual pattern. In most species, the scutes are reinforced with bony plates (subcutaneous) that fuse with the bones of the skull. As a result, the crocodile acquires armor that can withstand any external attacks.

The impressive tail, noticeably flattened on the right and left, serves (depending on the circumstances) as an engine, steering wheel and even a thermostat. The crocodile has short limbs that are “attached” to the sides (unlike most animals, whose legs are usually located under the body). This feature is reflected in the crocodile's gait when it is forced to travel on dry land.

The color is dominated by camouflage shades - black, dark olive, dirty brown or gray. Sometimes albinos are born, but such individuals do not survive in the wild.

Character and lifestyle

Disputes about the time of appearance of crocodiles are still going on. Some talk about the Cretaceous period (83.5 million years), others call twice that figure (150–200 million years ago). The evolution of reptiles consisted of the development of predatory tendencies and adaptation to an aquatic lifestyle.

Herpetologists are confident that crocodiles have been preserved almost in their original form by their adherence to fresh water bodies, which have hardly changed over the millions of years that have passed. For most of the day, reptiles lie in cool water, crawling out to the shallows in the morning and late afternoon to bask in the sun's rays. Sometimes they give themselves over to the waves and drift limply with the flow.

On the shore, crocodiles often freeze with their mouths open, which is explained by the heat transfer of droplets evaporating from the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Crocodile immobility is similar to torpor: it is not surprising that turtles and birds climb onto these “thick logs” without fear.

This is interesting! As soon as the prey is nearby, the crocodile throws its body forward with a powerful swing of its tail and firmly grabs it with its jaws. If the victim is large enough, neighboring crocodiles also gather for a meal.

On the shore, the animals are slow and clumsy, which does not prevent them from periodically migrating several kilometers from their native body of water. If no one is in a hurry, the crocodile crawls, gracefully wagging its body from side to side and spreading its paws. Accelerating, the reptile puts its legs under its body, lifting it above the ground. The speed record belongs to young Nile crocodiles, galloping up to 12 km per hour.

How long do crocodiles live?

Thanks to their slow metabolism and excellent adaptive qualities, some species of crocodiles live up to 80–120 years. Many do not live to a natural end because of the man who kills them for meat (Indochina) and fine leather.

True, crocodiles themselves are not always humane towards people. Saltwater crocodiles are characterized by increased bloodthirstiness; in some areas, Nile crocodiles are considered dangerous, but fish-eating narrow-snouted and small blunt-snouted crocodiles are considered completely harmless.

Species of crocodiles

To date, 25 species of modern crocodiles have been described, grouped into 8 genera and 3 families. The order Crocodilia includes the following families:

• Crocodylidae (15 species of true crocodiles);
• Alligatoridae (8 alligator species);
• Gavialidae (2 gavial species).

Some herpetologists count 24 species, others mention 28 species.

Range, habitats

Crocodiles are found everywhere, with the exception of Europe and Antarctica, preferring (like all heat-loving animals) the tropics and subtropics. Most have adapted to life in fresh water and only a few (African narrow-snouted, Nile and American sharp-snouted crocodiles) tolerate brackish water, inhabiting river estuaries. Almost everyone, except the saltwater crocodile, likes slow-moving rivers and shallow lakes.

Diet of crocodiles

Crocodiles hunt alone, but some species are able to cooperate to capture prey, capturing it in a ring.

Adult reptiles attack large animals that come to drink, such as:

• rhinoceroses;
• buffalos;
• hippos;
• (teenagers).

All living animals are inferior to the crocodile in bite force, supported by a cunning dental formula in which the small teeth of the lower jaw correspond to the large upper ones. When the mouth is closed, it is no longer possible to escape from it, but the death grip also has a downside: the crocodile is deprived of the ability to chew its prey, so it swallows it whole or tears it into pieces. In cutting the carcass, he is helped by rotational movements (around its axis), designed to “unscrew” a piece of pinched flesh.

This is interesting! At one time, a crocodile eats a volume equal to approximately 23% of its own body weight. If a person (weighing 80 kg) dined like a crocodile, he would have to swallow approximately 18.5 kg.

The components of the food change as it grows, and only fish remains its constant gastronomic attachment. When young, reptiles eat all kinds of invertebrates, including worms, insects, mollusks and crustaceans. Growing up, they switch to amphibians, birds and reptiles. Many species have been observed to engage in cannibalism - mature individuals eat young ones without a twinge of conscience. Crocodiles do not disdain carrion, hiding fragments of carcasses and returning to them when they are rotten.

Reproduction and offspring

Males are polygamous and during the breeding season they fiercely defend their territory from the invasion of competitors. Having met nose to nose, the crocodiles engage in fierce fights.

Incubation period

Females, depending on the variety, lay clutches in the shallows (covering them with sand) or bury their eggs in the soil, covering them with earth mixed with grass and leaves. In shady areas, the holes are usually shallow; in sunny areas they reach half a meter deep. The size and type of female influence the number of eggs laid (from 10 to 100). The egg, reminiscent of a chicken or goose, is packed in a dense lime shell.

The female tries not to leave the clutch, protecting it from predators, and therefore often remains hungry. The incubation period is directly related to the ambient temperature, but does not exceed 2–3 months. Fluctuations in the temperature background also determine the sex of newborn reptiles: at 31–32 °C males appear, at lower or, conversely, high levels, females appear. All babies hatch at the same time.

Birth

Trying to get out of the egg, newborns squeak, giving a signal to their mother. She crawls to the squeak and helps those who are stuck get rid of the shell: to do this, she takes the egg in her teeth and gently rolls it in her mouth. If necessary, the female also digs up the clutch, helps the brood get out, and then transfers it to the nearest body of water (although many get to the water on their own).

This is interesting! Not all crocodiles are inclined to care for their offspring - false gharials do not guard their clutches and are not at all interested in the fate of the cubs.

The toothy reptile manages not to injure the delicate skin of newborns, which is facilitated by the baroreceptors located in its mouth. It's funny, but in the heat of parental care, the female often grabs and drags to the water the hatched turtles, whose nests are located near the crocodiles. This is how some turtles ensure the safety of their clutches.

Growing up

At first, the mother reacts sensitively to the baby's squeak, fending off the children from all ill-wishers. But after a couple of days, the brood breaks off contact with the mother, dispersing to different corners of the reservoir. The life of crocodiles is filled with dangers coming not so much from foreign carnivores, but from adult representatives of their native species. Fleeing from relatives, young animals take refuge in river thickets for months and even years.

But even these preventive measures do not protect young reptiles, 80% of which die in the first years of life. The only saving factor can be considered a rapid increase in growth: in the first 2 years it almost triples. Crocodiles are ready to reproduce their own kind no earlier than 8–10 years.

natural enemies

Camouflage coloring, sharp teeth and keratinized skin do not save crocodiles from enemies. The smaller the species, the more real the danger. Lions have learned to lie in wait for reptiles on land, where they are deprived of their usual maneuverability, and hippos get them right in the water, biting the unfortunate ones in half.

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In South America, small crocodiles are often targeted by and.

Crocodiles are predatory reptiles. To learn everything about crocodiles, their lifestyle and behavior in the wild, we invite you to read our fascinating article.

Crocodiles, according to scientific classification, are a detachment of semi-aquatic reptiles that live on our planet. There are 23 species of crocodiles in total.

These reptiles are the only ones among other representatives of their class that have the most similarities with their ancestors - dinosaurs. The order of crocodiles consists of three families: Gharialidae, Crocodilidae and Alligatoridae. Real crocodiles differ in the shape of their muzzle: in the latter it has a wide and blunt end (and in representatives of the crocodile family it is narrowed).

In size, crocodiles are not small reptiles. Their body length starts from 1.5 meters and ends at 10 meters! The body of the crocodile has an elongated shape, it is slightly flattened. The limbs of these reptiles are short, they are located “sideways” and not under the body. All crocodiles have webbed feet.

The tail of these reptiles is very long and has a thickened shape. This part of the animal’s body has several functions: steering when moving in water, a “motor” for moving through water, and thermoregulation of the body. In crocodiles, the nostrils and eyes are located at a level above the entire head and body. This structure makes these reptiles sudden and successful hunters. Let's explain why: a crocodile can completely submerge itself in water, leaving only its eyes and nostrils on the surface (to watch the victim and breathe), and wait for hours for a tasty morsel, which, upon approaching the reservoir, does not even suspect that this will be its last sip of water...

Scientists have discovered one surprising feature in crocodiles. Everyone knows that crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, however... they can heat up their cold blood through muscle tension. From such “physical education” the body temperature of crocodiles can exceed the ambient temperature by 5 - 7 degrees.

The entire body of these animals is covered with a thick layer of skin. Unlike scaly reptiles, the “skin” of a crocodile is formed by scutes. Their shape and size on different parts of the body are unique and have their own intricate pattern. And this is what made crocodiles such a desirable prey for people. Crocodile skin has been turned into a luxury item by ubiquitous fashion designers and designers. And now glamorous ladies all over the world are chasing a handbag or strap (or even shoes) made of crocodile skin, forcing poachers to increasingly exterminate the population of crocodiles on Earth.

Where do crocodiles live?

These animals love warmth very much. Therefore, their habitat is tropical and subtropical zones. Crocodiles prefer to live in slow-moving rivers and small lakes. However, there are representatives of the order that inhabit salty sea waters - these are.

According to their way of life, crocodiles are quite slow, however, if necessary, they can make sharp jerks, run and! These reptiles are very dangerous, it is better not to try to meet a crocodile face to face.

What does a crocodile eat?

In terms of their diet, all crocodiles are predators, to one degree or another. Depending on their size, some of them feed only on fish (for example, a narrow-snouted crocodile), others hunt large ungulates and giant snakes. Some of these reptiles have even attacked elephants!

In addition, the diet of crocodiles may include mollusks, birds, small mammals, and even insects.

Reproduction of crocodiles

During the mating season, male crocodiles engage in real bloody and fierce battles for the possession of the female. According to the method of reproduction, crocodiles are oviparous reptiles. At one time, the female can create a clutch of 20 - 100 eggs. Incubation lasts from 2 to 3 months.