Crocodile
crocodiles are survivors from the age of dinosaurs-
powerful, heavily armed reptiles that can devour
any animal they seize in their fearsome jaws.
crocodiles, alligators, and their close relatives are the biggest
living reptiles. Although they look rather like lizards they are
actually more closely related to birds, and to the giant dinosaurs
that disappeared from the Earth about 66 millions years ago.
The earliest crocodiles lived alongside the dinosaurs, and probably
prayed on them using the same ambush tactics that modern
saltwater crocodiles use to kill buffalo. They have not changed
much since then, because they have not needed to - they have
always been perfectly adapted for their way of life.
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| Photo by Dušan Smetana on Unsplash |
Eyes
Night vision
A crocodile has eyes like a cat, with big pupils that
close to vertical slits in sunlight, but open wide to
increase sensitivity at night. They also reflect light
like cat's eyes. An extra transparent eyelid flips
across each eyes to protect it when submerged,
but this stops it focusing properly underwater.
Interlocking teeth
A saltwater crocodile has 64 to 68 stout, pointed teeth that overlap
each other when it closes its mouth. New teeth grow inside the old ones,
and replace them as they wear out.
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| Photo by Chris Thomas on Unsplash |
Super- strong jaws
Powerful by massive cheek muscles, the crocodile's jaws snap shut with
colossal force, giving its victim no chance of escape.
Speed
Speed on land - 3 kph ( 1.9 mph)
Speed in water - 35 kph ( 22 mph)
Habitat
Rivers, estuaries, and saltwater of Southeast Asia and Australasia
Diet
Animals up to size of a water buffalo
- Class - Reptilia
Lifespan
- 70 years (adult)
Length
- Male : 4.3 to 5.2 m (Adult) (14 ft - 17 ft)
- Female : 2.3 to 3.5 m(Adult) ( 7 ft - 11 ft)
THE SALTWATER CROCODILE
IS THE BIGGEST OF ALL
CROCODILES. WITH SOME MALES
PROBABLY GROWING TO 7 M (23 FT) OR MORE.
Ambush predator
A crocodile is specialized at hunting in the water.
It lurks in ambush, half - submerged, and simply
breathing out it can sink like a submarine. And
prey that wades into the water risks being suddenly
seized and dragged under to down. The crocodile
then rips the prey apart and swallows it in big chunks,
relying on its powerful stomach juices to digest every scrap.
- 3,000 The number of teeth that crocodile grows and loses during its lifetime.
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