Why are crocodiles dangerous? Description of the crocodile, features. Why does a crocodile love water?
Warm rivers and swampy ponds where crocodile and alligator live are avoided by local residents. Reptiles are very similar to each other, but the crocodile's muzzle is longer and thinner, and the fourth teeth are visible even if the mouth is closed. Below we will talk about these green predators, their habitat and interesting details of life. So, where and in what country do crocodiles live? What is their life expectancy? Can humans and crocodiles coexist peacefully?
Where does the crocodile live: habitat
The habitat of these reptiles, which have inhabited our planet for more than 200 million years, extends to all continents, excluding Antarctica. Any child, when asked: “Where does a crocodile live?”, will answer without hesitation: “In Africa!” Yes, the crocodile also lives in Africa.
There are varieties that are found in different countries and continents, and there are endemics - they inhabit one specific territory. For example, the Philippine crocodile lives only on the islands of the same name, while the saltwater saltwater crocodile can live in India, Indonesia, and Northern Australia.
The largest and smallest crocodile
The saltwater crocodile is the largest of all representatives of this family. He loves salty rivers into which sea water flows. People try not to enter or swim in these places where crocodiles live. For example, there was a case when in Malaysia on the Duzon River a green monster snatched first a mother and then a child from a boat. Children and women most often become victims of these predators when swimming or washing clothes in rivers.
The largest specimen captured (but not killed) living in captivity on an Australian park farm is the saltwater crocodile Cassius Clay. It is 5.5 m long, weighs about 1 ton and is long-lived. Crocodiles live about 80-100 years and grow throughout their lives. Cassius lived to be more than 110 years old. He is loved very much, despite his bloodthirsty past, and is treated to a 20-kilogram chicken cake on his birthday. The reptile feasts on it for exactly... half a minute.
The smallest crocodiles are not so small. These are South American caimans, which are no more than 1.5 m in length. West African freshwater blunt-nosed crocodiles are approximately the same size.
A country where crocodiles live better than people
Scientists are confident that the crocodile population has such a long history solely because these reptiles have no enemies in the natural environment. The only mammal that a crocodile should be wary of is humans.
People are chasing profit in the form of handbags and other products made from the skin of these reptiles, and poaching is rampant in the areas where crocodiles live. This is gradually leading to some species being declared endangered. For example, the habitat of the Siamese crocodile has been reduced to Thailand and Cambodia, and in Vietnam and on the island of Borneo they have not been found for many years.
The famous farm in Pattaya, where crocodiles live in artificial conditions and are raised for commercial purposes, attracts many tourists. Crocodiles are used in show programs, and you can buy a purse (about 3,000 baht) or a belt (about 2,000 baht) made from reptile skin.
A completely different situation is observed in Africa (Tunisia, the island of Djerba), where in the Explorer Park travelers can observe the life of crocodiles from comfortable bridges in conditions as close as possible to natural ones. Surprisingly, on a continent where most countries are on the verge of poverty, people unselfishly care about those who could make a profit at the cost of their own lives. Of course, tourists do not visit the park for free, but the cost of an entrance ticket and a crocodile skin handbag is incomparable.
The life of Nile crocodiles (the largest in Explorer Park reach 5 m) is not too different from their existence in natural conditions. In Tunisia they are fed meat; in winter, at a temperature of +10-15 0 C, they are transferred to heated indoor spaces. Females lay eggs in specially designated areas, and young crocodiles are kept separately from adults to prevent cannibalism.
How are crocodiles similar to birds and dogs?
The anatomical structure of the crocodile is perfect from the point of view of hunting. His eyes are endowed with a third eyelid, which allows him to see perfectly under water and in the dark. For a long time before an attack, crocodiles lie motionless closer to the sunny surface of the water to better warm up the blood before jumping. The powerful head and tail allow you to stun the victim and break the spine in one blow.
With his tenacious teeth, he takes the prey to his storage and “marinates” for some time, then swallows it without chewing. Interesting fact: in those parts of the Ganges where the crocodile lives, the reptile’s “storerooms” often contain the bodies of the dead, whom Hindus send into the waters of the sacred river during a funeral rite.
To better digest and move food through the intestines, these reptiles swallow stones, like birds. True, the size and weight of the stones are somewhat different, sometimes about 5 kg. Having had enough, the crocodile rests and cools down. To do this, like a dog, he opens his mouth. Some researchers claim that crocodiles can live for almost a year without food.
Friendship between people and crocodiles
Zoologists believe that friendship between people and green reptiles is impossible, and it should not be allowed because the outcome will still not be in favor of humans. However, there is evidence of a fisherman from Costa Rica who recovered a five-meter dying crocodile wounded by a hunter. The man temporarily settled him in his pond, literally hand-fed him.
The fisherman released the healthy alligator into the river, but the grateful reptile began to return. The friendship lasted until the natural death of the crocodile.
There was a time in China when people caught crocodiles and chained them outside their houses, like dogs. The alligator was fed and watered, and he guarded the owner's property. True, as a result, the Chinese... ate a crocodile grown to a decent size.
Historical past of crocodiles
Crocodiles appeared on the planet about 200 million years ago, at the end of the great era of lizards (human evolution began only about 7 million years ago). In those days, they led a purely land-based, and not aquatic, lifestyle, like their current descendants. Their legs were longer and their muzzles shorter than those of the crocodiles we know.
Crocodiles, along with birds, are the only surviving representatives of the archosaur subclass. The fact that crocodiles have survived to this day almost unchanged is explained by their habitat - inhabiting fresh water bodies of the tropics and subtropics, crocodiles live in places that have essentially changed little since ancient times. Crocodiles occupy a special position among reptiles, being closer to dinosaurs and modern birds than to other reptiles; a number of features of their organization allow us to consider them the most highly organized of reptiles. The evolution of crocodiles went in the direction of greatest adaptation to the aquatic lifestyle and predation.
Appearance
The body of crocodiles is lizard-shaped, 2–7 m long, the head is flattened with a long snout. The eyes and nostrils protrude strongly above the head. A secondary palate is developed in the oral cavity. The teeth are thecodont, the tongue is attached to the floor of the oral cavity. Crocodiles' teeth change repeatedly. The hind legs have webbed toes. The feature that distinguishes crocodiles from other reptiles is their four-chambered heart. The skin of crocodiles is covered with rectangular horny scutes, which are arranged in regular rows on the back and stomach.
Lifestyle
Crocodiles are common in all tropical countries ah, living in a variety of fresh water bodies. All modern crocodiles are adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle - living in water, they, however, lay eggs on land - although 3000 years ago there were land crocodiles in New Caledonia.
Crocodiles spend most of the day in the water. They come out to the coastal shallows in the morning and late afternoon to take “sunbathing.” These are cold-blooded animals whose body temperature depends on the temperature of the external environment. Some crocodiles hibernate during periods of drought, burying themselves in the silt of drying up reservoirs.
Offspring
All crocodiles lay eggs, which eventually hatch into fully formed babies. Mating occurs in water at different times of the year depending on the species and habitat. About a month after mating, the female looks for a place on land to lay eggs. Some species dig a hole in the sand for this, while others - like the American alligator - make a nest out of mud and half-rotten plants, which the female collects and brings in her mouth. The number of eggs in a clutch ranges from 20 to 100. Females remain near the clutch, protecting the eggs from enemies. The young eggs, still inside the eggs, make croaking sounds at the time of hatching, and the mother digs up the clutch, helping the offspring get out. All eggs hatch at the same time. Crocodiles show touching care for their offspring - organizing something like kindergartens.
Young crocodiles, miniature versions of their parents, feed from their remaining yolk sac for the first few weeks of life. The mother continues to look after and protect the offspring, since the babies are still completely defenseless and can easily become prey for an otter, raccoon, stork, turtle, large fish or water snake. Within a year, the cubs are twice as tall as any of their potential enemies. Before setting off on their travels, they live in the same body of water with their mother for up to one and a half years. At the age of three they leave their native pond and develop their own territory.
Depending on the species, sexual maturity occurs in a crocodile upon reaching a certain body length, at the age of 5 to 15 years. They are all excellent long-livers. Some individuals are said to live up to 100 years in the wild, although there is no reliable evidence for this.
Savor
While living peacefully in large groups, crocodiles jealously guard their territory, and there is usually a dominant male in the group. He spends more time in the water, patrolling the boundaries of his territory, driving away other large males and often emitting a loud roar. All crocodiles have a rich “vocabulary” - they grunt, hiss, hoarsely croak and growl, apparently carrying on their crocodile conversations.
Once on land, crocodiles usually move with a leisurely, lounging gait on widely spaced paws. If necessary, they can switch to an awkward gallop or slowly creep up on their belly. But they swim excellently, pushing off not with short webbed feet, but with the help of a long, strong tail. They can lie motionless in the water, with only their nostrils, eyes and ears located at the top of their head exposed to the air.
Crocodiles breathe atmospheric air, but can remain under water for a long time. When a crocodile dives, its ears and nostrils are closed with special valves. A thin film protects the eyes. In pursuit of prey or fleeing from an aggressive relative, it is capable, despite all its weight, of almost vertically jumping out of the water.
Diet
All crocodiles are carnivorous. With their wide, grasping jaws and sinister grin, they have long gained a reputation as merciless and aggressive predators. They terrify people everywhere, but the menu of crocodiles depends on their own size and the living creatures that live in the area.
The hatchlings and young animals that hatch from the eggs feed on insects, tadpoles, snails, small fish, crabs and other crustaceans and mollusks. At the beginning of life, they grow quite quickly, and since during this period they can only handle small prey, they often have to feed themselves.
As crocodiles grow, both the size of their prey and the breaks between meals increase. At first they eat large fish and reptiles, and later switch to mammals. They consider everything that comes within the reach of their terrible jaws - monkeys, buffaloes, zebras, snakes, even people - to be their rightful prey, and more than one careless animal, approaching a watering hole, becomes a victim of a crocodile. They do not disdain carrion. But no matter how sharp and impressive the teeth of these reptiles are, they are still not capable of tearing prey into pieces and chewing food. Having tracked the victim at the edge of the water, the crocodile grabs it and tries to drag it under water to drown it. Then the dead animal has to be pushed into some hole under the bank and wait until its skin softens and the meat becomes rotten enough for the successful hunter to tear off piece by piece. There is another way of hunting - squeezing the victim with its jaws, the crocodile turns somersaults in the water, trying to tear off pieces of meat from it, which it swallows whole. Large animals often serve as lunch for a whole flock of crocodiles, which vie to grab the tasty morsels.
Meaning to people
Crocodiles are dangerous to humans to varying degrees. Some never attack humans (the gharial), others attack systematically (the saltwater crocodile), and others (the Nile crocodile) attack occasionally. Crocodile meat is edible and consumed by the population of many tropical countries. The skin of crocodiles, especially alligators, is used to make various haberdashery products (briefcases, suitcases, etc.).
In later centuries, man took up arms against crocodiles and began to exterminate them everywhere - partly trying to protect livestock from them, and in many regions for food. But it was only when the fashion for crocodile skin products swept the whole world, coinciding with the invention of modern firearms, that the population of these animals began to decline rapidly. The numbers are simply monstrous. Up to 1 million caimans were killed annually in South America; in 1929, 190,000 American alligator skins were sold; in 1950, 12,500 crocodile skins were obtained in Tanzania. It is believed that if laws protecting the American alligator had not been passed in 1944, this species would have been exterminated long ago. In Africa, the Nile crocodile has disappeared from many traditional habitats in the north of the continent. In the 1970s, the Indian gharial began to be bred in captivity and was the only way to save it from complete extinction. Today there are about 1,500 of these animals in the reserves.
Now almost everywhere in the world crocodiles are protected, but the trade in crocodile skins, unfortunately, is still a very profitable business. Such high prices are paid for the skins that the impoverished natives of South America are willing to risk their lives to hunt down and kill an alligator.
Habitat loss
This is another factor that inevitably puts crocodiles on the brink of extinction, especially in South America and Southeast Asia. The construction of dams and canals causes irreparable damage to wildlife. Due to the deforestation of the jungle, the level of precipitation decreases, and those reservoirs in which crocodiles were previously found completely dry up.
The extinction of these animals is of grave concern not only because they are disappearing whole view, but also because this upsets the ecological balance in the region. For example, in the Florida Everglades, alligators eat spotted pike with bony scales, which, deprived of a natural enemy, would soon exterminate all the perch and bream there. In addition, alligators help other animals survive during the dry season. They dig holes in the ground, creating small bodies of water where fish find shelter and birds, reptiles and mammals find watering holes.
Interesting Facts
· During a lifetime, a crocodile's teeth can change about a hundred times.
· Once, three pieces of wood, a fishing sinker and a tobacco tin were found in the alligator’s stomach.
· Crocodiles have the most developed brain of all reptiles.
· The Indian gharial is the most important diver of all crocodiles, preferring to live in deep rivers with fast currents.
· Large crocodiles can be underwater more than an hour. When diving, their outer ears close, protecting the eardrum.
· An antibiotic was found in the crocodile's blood. This important scientific discovery was made... by journalists. BBC reporters, while filming a film in Australia about the life of crocodiles living in salt water, noticed that crocodiles often fight and inflict terrible wounds on each other, but they never develop inflammation or gangrene. Journalists managed to obtain a sample of the crocodile's blood, and its analysis showed that one of the previously unknown substances present in the reptile's blood effectively kills bacteria by penetrating their membranes. British reporters called the substance "crocodiline". Now this substance is being studied to treat people with various infectious diseases.
· The largest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which is found in India, northern Australia and the Fiji Islands. Its length can reach 7 meters, and its weight can be 1 ton! Five-meter individuals weigh at least half a ton. Moreover, the eggs that the female lays are no larger in size than those of a goose.
· The smallest crocodile is the dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), adults barely reach 190 cm in length. It is more land-dwelling than waterfowl.
· In some cultures the crocodile was considered a sacred animal, for example in Ancient Egypt. Even today, among some tribes of New Guinea, the crocodile is a totem symbol, and men undergo a painful procedure of mutilating their skin, after which it becomes covered with scars, making it look like a crocodile. The most interesting thing is that some tribes of Australian aborigines are considered masters in hunting crocodiles, while other tribes of the same Australian aborigines consider hunting crocodiles to be sacrilege.
· You can often see crocodiles lying for a long time with their mouths open. This is not an expression of aggression, but simple cooling. In this case, the dog sticks out its tongue, and the crocodile opens its mouth - excess heat and sweat come out with breathing.
· The exact age of a crocodile can only be determined by cutting the bone. We need to count the annual rings, like those of trees.
· A crocodile can eat nothing at all for a whole year.
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- This .
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
If you couldn't run away, fly away: crocodile vs wildebeest. 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.
Crocodile animal reptile, part of the order of aquatic vertebrates. These animals appeared on Earth more than 200 million years ago.
The first individuals first lived on land and only later mastered the aquatic environment. The closest relatives of crocodiles are considered.
Features and habitat of the crocodile
Life in water has formed the corresponding body of a reptile: the body of crocodiles is long, almost flat, with a flat long head, a powerful tail, short paws with toes connected by membranes.
Crocodile is a cold-blooded animal, his body temperature is about 30 degrees, sometimes it can reach 34 degrees, it depends on the ambient temperature. Animal world crocodiles very diverse, but species differ only in body length; there are reptiles up to 6 meters, but most are 2-4 m.
The largest saltwater crocodiles weigh more than a ton and have a length of up to 6.5 m, they are found in the Philippines. The smallest land crocodiles, 1.5-2 m, live in Africa. Under water, the crocodile's ears and nostrils close with valves, transparent eyelids fall over the eyes, thanks to them the animal sees well even in muddy water.
The mouth of crocodiles does not have lips, so it does not close tightly. To prevent water from entering the stomach, the entrance to the esophagus is blocked by the velum palatine. The crocodile's eyes are located high on the head, so only the eyes and nostrils are visible above the surface of the water. The brown-green color of the crocodile camouflages it well in the water.
The green tint predominates if the ambient temperature is elevated. The animal's skin consists of durable horny plates that protect well internal organs.
Crocodiles, unlike other reptiles, do not shed; their skin constantly grows and renews itself. Thanks to its elongated body, the animal maneuvers well and moves quickly in the water, while using its powerful tail as a rudder.
Crocodiles live in fresh waters of the tropics. Eat species of crocodiles, well adapted to salt water, they are found in the coastal strip of the seas - these are combed, Nile, African narrow-snouted crocodiles.
Character and lifestyle of a crocodile
Crocodiles are almost constantly in the water. They crawl ashore in the morning and evening to warm their horny plates in the sun. When the sun is hot, the animal opens its mouth wide, thus cooling the body.
Birds, attracted by leftover food, can freely enter the mouth at this time to eat. And although crocodile predator, wild animal he never tries to grab them.
Crocodiles mainly live in fresh waters; in hot weather, when the reservoir dries out, they can dig a hole at the bottom of the remaining puddle and hibernate. During drought, reptiles can crawl into caves in search of water. If hungry, crocodiles are able to eat their relatives.
On land, animals are very clumsy and clumsy, but in water they move easily and gracefully. If necessary, they can move to other bodies of water by land, covering several kilometers.
Nutrition
Crocodiles hunt mainly at night, but if prey is available during the day, the animal will not refuse to feast on it. Receptors located on the jaws help reptiles detect potential prey even at a very long distance.
The main food of crocodiles is fish, as well as small animals. The choice of food depends on the size and age of the crocodile: young individuals prefer invertebrates, fish, amphibians, adults prefer small mammals, reptiles and birds.
Very large crocodiles can easily handle victims larger than themselves. This is how Nile crocodiles hunt during their migration; the saltwater crocodile hunts livestock during the rains; Madagascar can even eat.
Reptiles do not chew food; they tear it into pieces with their teeth and swallow them whole. They can leave prey that is too large at the bottom to soak. Stones swallowed by animals help in digesting food; they crush it in the stomach. Stones can be of impressive size: a Nile crocodile can swallow a stone up to 5 kg.
Crocodiles do not eat carrion unless they are very weak and unable to hunt; they do not touch rotten food at all. Reptiles eat quite a lot: they can consume about a quarter of their weight in food at a time. About 60% of the food consumed turns into fat, so the crocodile can fast for up to one year if necessary.
Reproduction and lifespan
The crocodile is one of the long-lived animals, he lives from 55 to 115 years. Puberty occurs early, at approximately the age of 7 - 11 years. Crocodiles are polygamous animals: a male has 10 - 12 females in his harem.
Although the animals live in water, they lay eggs on land. At night, the female digs a hole in the sand and lays about 50 eggs there, covering them with leaves or sand. The size of the depression depends on the illumination of the place: in the sun the hole becomes deeper, in the shade it is not very deep.
The eggs mature for about three months, during which time the female remains close to the clutch, practically not feeding. The sex of future crocodiles depends on the environmental temperature: females appear at 28-30° C, males at temperatures above 32° C.
Before they are born, the babies inside the eggs begin to grunt. The mother, hearing the sounds, begins to dig out the masonry. Then he helps the babies free themselves from the shell by rolling the eggs in their mouths.
The female carefully transfers the emerging crocodiles, measuring 26-28 cm, into a shallow body of water, capturing them in her mouth. There they grow for two months, after which they disperse to the surrounding, not heavily populated, reservoirs. Many small reptiles die, they become victims of birds, monitor lizards and other predators.
Surviving crocodiles first feed on insects, then hunt small fish and, from 8-10 years of age, begin to catch larger animals.
Not everyone is a danger to humans species of crocodiles. So the Nile crocodile and the saltwater crocodile are cannibals, but the gharial is not at all dangerous. Crocodile as a pet Today they are even kept in city apartments.
In their habitats, crocodiles are hunted, their meat is eaten, and their skin is used to create haberdashery, which has led to a decline in the crocodile population. In some countries today they are bred on farms; in many tribes they are considered the crocodile is a sacred animal.
Crocodile is a special type of reptile whose lifestyle is semi-aquatic. By appearance The crocodile resembles smooth stones, so people should be careful near bodies of water and vegetation, as the animal can quickly attack.
Thanks to their coloring, crocodiles are able to camouflage themselves perfectly in nature.
Crocodiles belong to the class of archosaurs; an adult can reach 3 meters in length, and some giants can reach 7 meters. Crocodiles weigh from 250-500 kg, with one head weighing 200 kg; as a rule, males are much larger than females.
Description of a cold-blooded animal
The entire body of the animal is covered with 9 cervical vertebrae, while the tail has 36 vertebrae, which help it turn, accelerate, and also maintain optimal body temperature.
The crocodile is a cold-blooded reptile, so its element is water. Due to the fact that its eyes and nose are located close to the top of its head, it can lie underwater for a long time waiting for its prey, while being able to see perfectly from the water what is happening on land.
The most terrible thing about a crocodile is its huge mouth, with 80 sharp fangs.
The entire body of the reptile is covered with skin, which is formed by keratinized shields. The crocodile has strong ribs inside its body. The color of a crocodile can range from green to dark brown, depending on the species and habitat.
The crocodile has a four-chambered heart, and the blood contains a special antibiotic that prevents the crocodile’s body from becoming infected, because it is constantly in dirty water.
The stomach of a crocodile is not ordinary; it differs in that it contains special gastrolith stones inside, which help to process any solid food, as well as keep the long body in balance in the water.
A crocodile grows all its life, as cartilage tissue constantly changing in size. Their average lifespan is about 85 years.
The crocodile animal is considered a fearless animal; it has no enemies. The only enemy can be considered a person who, using special traps, catches middle-aged individuals.
Also, crocodile eggs can be eaten by turtles, monitor lizards, and herons.
Can crocodiles cry?
People say “cry crocodile tears” and for good reason. Crocodiles can really cry, but not from pain and resentment.
The peculiarity of the appearance of tears is that the animal has a special lacrimal gland; it removes salts from the body that have accumulated in excess in the crocodile.
So, crocodile tears are a natural process that occurs due to a large amount of harmful salts.
Where do crocodiles live?
Crocodiles can be found anywhere in the world, where they are not bred independently, where there is no habitat favorable for them, they are bred artificially and all the conditions for existence are created.
The most favorable climate for a crocodile is Guatemala, countries of Asia, Africa, the Philippine Islands, Australia, America, etc.
Animals love fresh water bodies; they are willing to spend all their time in such places.
The reptile can also perfectly adapt to a salty body of water, since they have a good water-salt metabolism, so it can also be found in the seas.
How do crocodiles live?
All crocodiles live in water and lay eggs in the sand on land; this lifestyle is called semi-aquatic. The animal loves to be under the sun in the early morning or afternoon.
The body temperature of a crocodile always varies depending on the environment. When it is very hot outside, the reptile opens its mouth to evaporate the water, at this time the birds can feast on the remains of food in their sharp teeth, after which they can be eaten by a crocodile.
Crocodiles are most often found directly near the water, but in search of prey they can pave a path of 4 kilometers, while moving at a speed of 15 km/h.
The crocodile's lifestyle allows it to move away from its main place and then return again.
What do crocodiles eat?
The diet of a crocodile depends primarily on its own body size. Thus, large individuals can swallow a large horned animal, while a smaller species is not able to consume such food.
The main diet of a crocodile is fish, birds, bats, snakes, and monitor lizards. A crocodile can even eat poisonous snakes.
Crocodiles living in the sea feed on dolphins, fish, shellfish; large species even eat sharks.
The reptile often hunts kangaroos, cheetahs, lions, monkeys, hares and other savannah animals. Crocodiles living near the village can eat domestic animals and even people.
Species of crocodiles
Nile crocodile
It is considered the largest representative of this genus. It lives in rivers, fresh water bodies, and lakes.
The main food of such animals is giraffes, hippos, and rhinoceroses.
Blunt crocodile
It is considered the smallest crocodile; an adult does not exceed one and a half meters in length.
The animal lives in the fresh waters of Africa, they are afraid of people, and hunt mainly at night. They feed on all types of fish and carrion.
Saltwater crocodile
This is the largest crocodile on the entire planet. Such a crocodile is considered the most dangerous predator; people called it a man-eating crocodile.
It reaches 7 meters in length and weighs about 2 tons. This reptile lives in the sea, in Indonesia, in the Philippines.
It feeds on large animals, buffaloes, cows, goats, and domestic animals.
Photo of a crocodile
