The Nile crocodile is a member of the Prestigious or Reptile class. This animal is one of the most ancient, unique and dangerous on the planet. The predator is rightly called the "king of the river" because there is practically no equal to him in strength and adaptability. In this article you will find a description and a photo of the Nile crocodile, you can learn a lot about this strong and greatest predator.
What does a Nile crocodile look like?
The Nile crocodile looks frightening and belongs to the Crocodile family. It is huge, very strong and perfectly disguised. The predator has short legs on the sides of the body, scaly skin, long combed tail and powerful jaws. Crocodile eyes, ears, and nostrils are at the top of the head. Reptiles have a rare hearing and vision.
The Nile crocodile looks invisible due to its color. Young individuals are usually gray or light brown and have dark stripes on their backs and tails. The older the specimen gets, the darker it gets. The reptile stomach is yellow. The massive muscular tail of the Nile crocodile serves as a kind of accelerator and allows you to move quickly in the water. It takes up almost half the length of the entire reptile body.
The jaw of the Nile crocodile has 65 teeth and is one of the strongest on the planet. Predators can easily hold large animals and crush bone.
Thanks to the senses on top of the head, the crocodile can almost completely immerse itself in water. This allows the animal to conceal herself in the water, leaving only the eyes and tip of her nose on the surface, while her large and long body is hidden underwater.
The Nile crocodile looks massive and is the largest crocodile. This predator is the second largest crocodile in the world. The males of the Nile crocodile are much larger than females.
The average size of adult males ranges from 3 to 5 meters in length. Bodyweight varies from 300 to 700 kg. Individual males can reach more than 6 meters in length and weigh more than a ton. The average size of females varies from 2 to 4 meters, with a bodyweight of 200 to 500 kg. But there are also some larger females.
Where does the Nile crocodile live? Behavioral features.
The Nile crocodile lives in Africa and is one of the largest crocodiles in the continent. It inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers, and swamps almost all over the African continent. The greatest prevalence is in such countries Africa as Kenya, Somalia, Zambia, and Ethiopia. The number of Nile crocodiles is quite high and stable, but in some countries of the continent, this species is under threat of extinction.
Nile crocodile lives in calm water, with a sandy coastal zone. It is not often found at a considerable distance from the reservoir. Usually, it is connected with the search for a new place to live, and also if the pond dries up. Most crocodiles crawl on their stomachs but can run short distances at speeds of up to 14 km/h.
The Nile crocodile is very experienced and successful in swimming. It usually dives for 2-3 minutes but can stay underwater for 30 minutes to 2 hours. It dives completely and silently, displacing air from its large lungs. Nile crocodile swims very fast underwater. The tail helps to develop speed in water up to 30 km/h. Its ears, nose, and throat are protected by valves, and the eye is covered with a thin transparent film. This predator has special receptors all over his body. Thanks to which it easily catches the fluctuations of water, and finds out with what force and where they come from.
The Nile crocodile lives slowly - usually, they are quite slow creatures, like many other cold-blooded animals. Most of the time they are on the shore or in shallow water, keeping their jaws open to avoid overheating. It is also a sign of danger to other crocodiles to open their mouths. Nile crocodiles are very hostile and territorial predators.
Crocodiles can hibernate in the summer from May to August. To do this, they dig a hole in the riverbank. Once underground, where it is dark and cool, the animal's body temperature drops and its metabolism, respiration, and heart rate slows down. In this state, the energy consumption is minimal. So the crocodile can save enough strength until he needs it.
For centuries, a large Nile crocodile has been living on the planet, causing horror, because it can instantly and brutally kill both animals and people. Among other animals, the Nile crocodile has no enemies. Only humans are opposed to the predator. The Nile crocodile is a hunting ground because of its skin.
The Nile crocodile, combining large size and high levels of aggression, creates a very high probability of attacking a person. The Nile crocodile lives close to underdeveloped populations and often comes into contact with people. He can attack a person when he stands in the water near the shore, crosses shallow waters, crosses a water body or lowers his feet into the water from a ship or pier.
Less often, particularly large and hungry Nile crocodiles can turn a boat over or even attack a landfall. Fishermen and people whose activities are related to water are most at risk. Rough hunters, tourists, and travelers are also victims of crocodiles.
Nile crocodiles often attack people without fear of humans and perceive them as potential food. Females of crocodiles, who protect their cubs, are very dangerous. Anyone who tries to approach their offspring will be eaten.
What does the Nile crocodile eat and how does it hurt?
Adult crocodiles are at the top of the food chain - there are no predators to threaten them. This prehistoric animal eats everyone and everything in its path. The Nile crocodile is one of the strongest predators in the world. The food of the Nile crocodile is quite diverse. Crocodile is almost omnivorous. And the older and larger it is, the more food it needs and the larger its prey becomes.
Young individuals can do with large fish and birds. As they grow older, the Nile crocodile feeds on larger animals that come to the watering hole or cross the river. These are zebras, African buffaloes, and wildebeest antelope. They can attack elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos and even lions. Nile crocodiles are hunting completely submerged or leaving only eyes and nostrils on the surface. He always attacks unexpectedly, jumping out of the water and almost instantly grabbing his prey.
In the water, the Nile crocodile is very mobile, using secrecy, receptors, and power in order to find and capture their prey. It is virtually impossible to escape it. He bites with an impressive force of 1 ton and tries to drown the victim. The jaws of the reptile are equipped with muscles that contract extremely quickly, making the bite lightning-fast and snapping the jaws at 9 m/s.
The Nile crocodile attacks prey at close range. He approaches and waits for the victim to be within 2 meters of him. The crocodile jumps out of the water at a speed of 12 m/s, and its scaly skin makes it easier to maneuver in the water. The hind legs work like pistons and help to push back from the river bottom, and the long tail allows you to accelerate in the direction of extraction.
Their ability to successfully camouflage underwater, combined with high speed and explosive power, make Nile crocodiles excellent hunters for large prey. They can tolerate each other and work as a group when attacking large prey.