Interesting facts about alligators and crocodiles. Crocodiles (lat. Crocodilia) What is the name of crocodiles

Crocodiles are reptiles that have lived on Earth for about 250 million years. Crocodiles are extremely dangerous predators up to five and a half meters long. They pose a serious danger to most living creatures that find themselves in close proximity to them. The ancestors of modern crocodiles lived on land, but all modern representatives of this order lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Where do crocodiles live?

You can meet a crocodile in almost all tropical countries. They live in both freshwater bodies and salty coastal waters. They spend most of the day in the water. They usually hunt at night.

In particular, crocodiles are widespread in Africa, tropical regions of South, Central and North America, northern Australia, Bali, Guatemala, the Philippine Islands and Japan.

Some species sometimes swim far out to sea and can be found 600 km offshore.

Despite the fact that crocodiles usually live in water or near bodies of water, they can also be seen at a considerable distance from the water. Sometimes they travel on foot from one body of water to another, usually due to changes in climate or natural conditions. Some species may undergo seasonal migrations.

They can live in both sandy and wooded areas. They are also found among thickets of bushes and buried in silt.

As cold-blooded animals, they use the external environment to thermoregulate the body. They cannot tolerate temperatures below 20 and above 38 degrees Celsius. In this regard, in unfavorable conditions, they can dig nests and hibernate for a long period of time.

The superorder Crocodylomorpha (crocodyliformes) appeared on Earth approximately 220-230 million years ago in the Late Triassic period, that is, approximately at the same time as dinosaurs. The order of crocodiles (Crocodilia) itself appeared approximately 84 million years ago. Thus, crocodiles lived side by side with dinosaurs for many millions of years. However, while dinosaurs went extinct, crocodiles are alive and well to this day.
Crocodiles are the most highly developed among the entire class of modern reptiles, and they are also the closest relatives of all reptiles to dinosaurs and, no matter how strange it may seem, birds.
Nowadays, the order of crocodiles includes 23 species, divided into 3 families and several genera. Below is a list of all modern crocodiles with a brief description and classification.

Family true crocodiles (Crocodylidae):

Saltwater, saltwater, or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)- considered the largest of modern crocodiles. Some extremely large adult males reach 7 meters in length. It often goes out to sea, which is why it earned one of its names. The saltwater crocodile lives in Southeast Asia and northern Australia.

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) comparable in size to a saltwater crocodile, although on average it is slightly inferior in length. Typically, the maximum length of males is about 6 meters. Distributed in Africa.

Swamp or Indian crocodile or mager (Crocodylus palustris) is also a very large crocodile, with a body length of approximately 4 to 5 meters. The marsh crocodile has a very wide snout, which makes it look a bit like an alligator. Distributed throughout India, including neighboring countries.

Sharp-snouted or American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) belongs to the largest species. In rare cases, males of this species can reach about 6 meters. The basis of its diet is all kinds of waterfowl (most often fish). Sometimes it attacks small mammals.
The sharp-snouted crocodile lives in the northern part of South America, Central America, and the southern United States.

African narrow-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus) lives in Central and Western Africa. The length of crocodiles of this species is usually about 2.5 meters, but sometimes it can reach 4.

Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) distributed in Colombia and Venezuela. A very large crocodile. The dimensions are approximately the same as those of the sharp-snouted crocodile, which it also resembles with its narrow snout.

Johnston's crocodile, or Australian narrow-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) quite a small crocodile. The maximum length is about 3 meters, usually only 2. Distributed in the north of Australia.

Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) lives, as the name suggests, in the Philippine Islands. This is a small crocodile, whose maximum length is no more than 3 meters.

Central American crocodile, or Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) also a relatively small species. Males usually reach about 3 meters in length. Distributed in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae) lives in New Guinea and Indonesia. The maximum length of males is approximately 3.5 meters.

Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) lives, accordingly, in Cuba. This is a medium sized crocodile. Their length on average is about 3.5 meters, but occasionally reaches 5 meters.

Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) lives in Southeast Asia, in countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei, etc. Length about 3-4 meters.

Blunt-snouted or African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) distributed in Western and Central Africa. The length is less than two meters. The maximum recorded length of the blunt-nosed crocodile is 1.9 meters (according to some sources).

Alligator family (Alligatoridae):

Mississippi or American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) competes with the black caiman for the title of the largest representative of the Alligatoridae family. The length of adult males is usually 4-4.5 meters, but in exceptional cases, according to some sources, it can reach more than 5 meters. The jaws are strong and wide. Distribution: southern USA.

Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) together with the Mississippi alligator, it represents the genus Alligator. It is the only member of the Alligatoridae family found in the Old World. The usual length of Chinese alligators is about 2 meters.

Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), along with the Mississippi alligator, is the largest representative of its family (according to some experts, the largest). The usual length of black caimans is approximately 4 meters, but according to some sources, sometimes these caimans grow up to 6 meters. Like all other caimans, the black caiman is common in South America, in countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana, etc.

Crocodile or Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) distributed in Brazil, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, etc. The length of the crocodile caiman is usually 2-2.5 meters.

Broad-faced caiman (Caiman latirostris) distributed in northern Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. The maximum length of this species is approximately 3.5 meters.

Paraguayan or Yacar caiman (Caiman yacare) reaches 2.5-3 meters in length. Distributed in the southern part of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, and also in southern Bolivia.

Cuvier's dwarf or smooth-faced caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) lives in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, etc. This small caiman is approximately 1.5-1.6 meters long, making it the smallest member of the order Crocodylia.

Schneider's dwarf or smooth-faced caiman (Paleosuchus trigonatus) actually, if you think about it, not that dwarf. The usual length of these caimans is approximately 1.7-2.3 meters, and occasionally they can reach 2.6 meters in length.

Gharial family (Gavialidae):

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) has the most specific appearance among modern crocodiles. Until recently, it was considered the only representative of the gavial family (Gavialidae) that has survived to this day. However, scientists have recently concluded that the false gharial is also a member of this family.
The gharial is one of the largest crocodiles in the world. In length, it is, as a rule, not inferior to such monsters as saltwater and Nile crocodiles. However, its long and thin jaws, studded with thin and long teeth, are only suitable for catching fish, which forms the basis of the gharial’s diet.
The gharial lives in India, Nepal, Pakistan and neighboring countries.

Gharial crocodile, pseudogharial, or false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), as the name suggests, is very similar to the gharial. For a long time, scientists considered it a member of the crocodile family (Crocodylidae), and its resemblance to the gharial was a convergence. However, at present, zoologists bring it closer to the gharial and place it in the same family - Gavialidae.
The maximum length of the false gharial is approximately 5 meters. Lives in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Photos:

Saltwater, saltwater, or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus).

Swamp, or Indian crocodile, or mager. (Crocodylus polustris).

Sharp-snouted or American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus).

African narrow-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus).

Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius).

Johnston's crocodile, or Australian narrow-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni).

Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis).

Central American crocodile, or Morel's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii).

Crocodiles are often ranked among the most interesting animals, and many zoologists and animal lovers spend their entire lives studying the characteristics and diversity of crocodiles.

Crocodiles (Crocodilia) are reptiles from the order of aquatic vertebrates. Their usual habitats are in Australia, North and South America, Asia and Africa. Today, they are considered the most powerful among reptiles. There are about 23 modern species, which are divided into 3 families: crocodiles, alligators and gharials. As a rule, these animals live from 60 to 70 years, but there are individuals that have crossed the 125-year mark.

The sizes of crocodiles are very different, but the largest crocodile in the world, which is also the heaviest, is‒ saltwater crocodile(Crocodylus porosus). Its length is 6.2 meters and its weight is 1200 kg. Its habitat is the waters of eastern India, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.

photo: Phil Simonson

(Osteolaemus tetraspis) on the contrary is the smallest. Found in tropical lowland waters of sub-Saharan West Africa and West Central Africa. They are only 1-2 meters long.

Being hunters, all crocodiles have very good eyesight. To begin with, they have the ability to keep their eyes open while immersed in water. This gives them the opportunity to lurk underwater in anticipation of prey. On land, these reptiles are no less dangerous and fast, their speed reaches 43.5 km/h.

Due to its specific appearance, it is widely known (Gavialis gangeticus). The largest males reach a length of 5-6 m, and females are slightly more than 4 m. They have a long and thin snout, designed for catching fish, their main food product. Gharials live in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, living in clean, freshwater rivers with fast currents.

The second modern species in the gharial family gharial crocodile(Tomistoma schlegelii) also has a long snout and large size. It lives in Malaysia and Indonesia, very rarely, but is also found in Thailand.

photo: Ted McGrath

The most common representative of the family of true crocodiles sharp-snouted crocodile(Crocodylus acutus). Quite a large species: average length: 3.5 m, maximum 6 m, weight 180-450 kg. It has a stocky body with a long, powerful tail. It lives along the east coast of the Pacific Ocean from western Mexico south to Ecuador, and along the west coast of the Atlantic Ocean from Guatemala north to the southern tip of Florida.

Siamese crocodile(Crocodylus siamensis) is a small, freshwater crocodile with a relatively wide, smooth snout. It is one of the most endangered species in the wild, although it is widely bred in captivity. Adults feed primarily on fish, but may also eat amphibians, reptiles and small mammals.

photo: RonSpomer

Crocodiles are among the most well-adapted hunters among reptiles and more. To begin with, one jaw has about 24 teeth, which are ideal for capturing prey, but not for chewing. Damaged and broken teeth are constantly replaced with new ones. After the crocodile has caught its prey, it does not let go and pulls it into the water to drown it. Afterwards, it swallows the victim without chewing; if it is too large, it makes sharp movements from side to side to tear it into smaller pieces. All crocodiles are known as one of the most patient hunters because they can stay underwater just below the surface of the water, hiding for more than 8 hours waiting for prey.

One of the most dangerous animals in Africa and a famous cannibal is Nile crocodile(Crocodylus niloticus). Only where hippos live do more people die than from this terrible reptile. Among the very dangerous representatives of the family is also swamp crocodile(Crocodylus palustris) and Mississippi alligator(Alligator mississippiensis). The first affects about 100 people a year, and the second attacks only 10 per year, but almost all cases are fatal.

photo: Vladislav Simonov

(Alligator sinensis) has only about 200 individuals, so it has the status of a very rare species. It hunts at night and its diet consists mainly of aquatic molluscs such as snails and mussels, as well as fish. Also feeds on occasional waterfowl and small mammals.

photo:muzina_shanghai

Male crocodiles grow much larger and faster than females. Depending on the species, a crocodile can live on average up to 70 years, with some species reaching a limit of 130 years.

photo:Profe Josema

The International Red Book contains caiman black(Melanosuchus niger), which occurs throughout much of the Amazon basin, but is much less common than several decades ago. It is the largest predator of the Amazon, growing up to 6 m in length. They also have protective status marsh crocodile(Crocodylus palustris), Orinoco(Crocodylus intermedius), sharp-snouted(Crocodylus acutus), narrow-snouted African(Crocodylus cataphractus) and gavial(Gavialis gangeticus).

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Perhaps one of the most controversial animals on earth is the crocodile. Some people think it is terrible and bloodthirsty, some think it is useful, and some are completely sure that these reptiles are the real descendants of dinosaurs living in our time. We all know interesting facts about crocodiles that are hard to believe. Let's figure out where the truth is and where the fiction is.

Who is a crocodile?

The crocodile is a predatory carnivorous aquatic reptile. It lives in the tropics and it is possible to meet them on all continents except Europe and Antarctica. Most of a crocodile's life is spent in water. They love warm muddy ponds, slow-flowing rivers, lakes, and swamps. All that crocodiles can get is enough for dinner. And prey can be different - these are small fish from reservoirs, and large mammals coming to drink. crocodiles reach 100 years. They begin to reproduce at the age of 6-8 years.

Serpentologist - very People of this specialty know everything about crocodiles and other reptiles. It is their task to study the varieties of these dangerous animals.

The most common types of crocodiles

Nowadays, 23 species of crocodiles live in rivers and lakes. They are all divided into three families:

• Crocodiles are the largest family. It includes 14 species of these amphibious reptiles. The well-known Nile crocodile belongs to this family. Interesting facts and horror stories about crocodiles living in the largest river in Africa will scare even the bravest.
• Alligator. This family includes two species of alligators and six species of caimans. In fact, alligators are different from crocodiles and caimans, although many do not see the difference.
• Gharialidae. This family contains only one species - the Gangetic gharial.

Why is a crocodile dangerous?

Is it true that you should be afraid of crocodiles? Are they as dangerous as they look? Or maybe “fear has big eyes,” and all the terrible stories about these reptiles are fiction?

In fact, the crocodile is a strong animal with huge teeth and lightning-fast reactions, but it does not specifically hunt people. These reptiles can only harm those who invade their territory. Their attacks are often defensive in nature. Everything about crocodiles, regarding their bloodthirstiness and danger to humans, is greatly exaggerated, but still makes sense. You need to be extremely careful when communicating with them, especially if such communication does not take place on your territory.

The appearance, menacing and dangerous nature of these reptiles has always aroused great interest. have many amazing features:

• Surprisingly, crocodiles can climb trees. Zoologists often noticed them on tree branches. Moreover, they can climb to a height of up to 2.5 m.
• Legend has it that when a crocodile eats a person, it cries, feeling guilty. This is partly true - you can see tears in a crocodile, but they only appear when it eats any meat, and are not associated with an awakened conscience, but with a physiological feature. In this way, excess salts are removed from the reptile’s body.
• The crocodile has 24 teeth. They change throughout life. Instead of a lost tooth, a new one always grows, and this can be repeated many times.
• A crocodile can jump out of the water to a height of two meters.
• Reptiles can often be seen lying on the shore with their mouths eerily open. This is done to cool the body.
• Crocodylus porosus - the largest, its body reaches 7 meters, and its weight is 1 ton. You can meet it in the northern part of the Australian continent and in India.
• Newborn crocodiles are easy prey. 99% of them are eaten by adults of their own species and others

The most common myths about crocodiles

Interesting facts about crocodiles are not always true. It happens that the widespread information about one or another feature of these reptiles is simply fictitious.

There is an opinion that birds, trying to find food, use their sharp beaks to clean the crocodile’s teeth from food debris. In fact, such a symbiosis has not been observed in the wild, and information that many considered to be true turned out to be fiction.

Another fiction concerns the crocodile tongue. There is an opinion that these reptiles simply do not have it. As you might have guessed, this is not true. Every crocodile has a tongue, and it’s also a very large one. They just can't put it out. This is due to an anatomical feature: the tongue is attached along the entire length of the crocodile’s lower jaw. What this reptile lacks is lips. The crocodile really does not have them, so it cannot completely close its mouth and sharp teeth are always in sight.

Anyone who believes that crocodiles run fast is also mistaken. The body structure of this reptile simply does not allow it to reach speeds exceeding 10 km/h.

Crocodiles on television

Interesting facts about crocodiles (fictional, of course) can also be learned from cartoons.

Perhaps the most famous crocodile “from TV” is considered to be Gena. The same friend of Cheburashka. This is a kind and shy crocodile who cannot be imagined without his favorite accordion. With his songs he has touched more than one generation of children.

Recently, an entire computer game dedicated to the cute and friendly crocodile, “Swampy the Crocodile,” has appeared. He is very clean and always tries to wash himself thoroughly. This crocodile became so popular that a multi-part animated series of the same name was filmed about it.

In the famous poems of Korney Chukovsky, the crocodile is even more of a villain, because he swallowed the sun. But as in any fairy tale, everything ended well. This story also deserved to be made into a cartoon.

Horror stories about crocodiles are most often shown in feature films. The reptiles there are not so kind and friendly. There are many films in which the main character is a crocodile. You won't see any interesting facts for children, but for adults it promises to be entertaining. "Predatory Waters", "Lake of Fear", "Alligator" - these are just a few of the many horror films about crocodiles.

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 than the 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 gharial 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.