Nile crocodile

The distribution area of this large reptile includes almost the entire African continent, with the exception of the northern part, as well as Madagascar, Seychelles and Comoros.

Nil crocodile has a dark bronze color, with black spots in the tail and abdomen. The eyes of the animal have a rich green color. The reptile has four short paws and a powerful long tail. A characteristic feature of Nile crocodiles is the presence of scaly armor on the back. The muzzle of the animal is large enough and elongated. In the upper part of the head are the ears, eyes and nostrils. Due to this feature, the reptile is able, submerging in water, to leave them on the surface. Swim to the animal helps its powerful tail. On the hind legs there are webs that allow you to successfully swim under water. The body length of some individuals can reach six meters, and their weight - more than 1200 kilograms.

Usually the Nile crocodile moves crawling, but occasionally he can walk, slightly lifting his torso. And some individuals are able to even run certain distances at a speed of 13 km / h. Floats the crocodile pretty quickly, the speed of its movement in the pond is 30 km / h. Due to the unique ability of the heart to clog the entry of blood into the lungs, a reptile can be underwater for more than thirty minutes. The Nile crocodile has excellent hearing and sight, but the touch, taste and smell are not developed well enough.

During the dive, the so-called third eyelid or membrane closes the animal's eyes, protecting them from water. In this case, the reptile does not lose the ability to see. Behind the throat, the crocodile has a leathery growth that prevents water from entering the respiratory organs during swimming. Because of this, the reptile can easily hunt underwater and not choke. The number of teeth varies from 64 to 68. The average life expectancy of a reptile is 50 years.

The Nile crocodile is found in a wide variety of water bodies: rivers, lakes, brackish marshes and freshwater springs.

At a young age, a reptile feeds on insects and aquatic animals. Two-meter long crocodiles eat mollusks, fish and crustaceans. Adult individuals hunt birds, large mammals and other smaller reptiles and fish. Almost any animal that came to the watering hole, excluding behemoths and elephants, can become a victim of the Nile crocodile.

The huge size of the overlapping and surprising power allows him to attack and attack a person. That's why these animals are called crocodiles-cannibals. A great danger for a person is the female during the care of the offspring. During this period, the reptile becomes aggressive towards any animal approaching its home.

Usually at night the Nile crocodiles are in the water, and at sunrise they crawl ashore and bask in the sun. In hot days they spend all the time in a pond. Hunt reptiles in the afternoon.

By 8 - 12 years, the Nile crocodile reaches sexual maturity. The female is able to lay up to 60 eggs. The next three months she spends near the nest, guarding the future young, and then helps the offspring to get out of the eggs. Newborns are moved closer to the water, where they live next to their mother for the next two years.

Unlike Nile, the crocodile-alligator has a wider muzzle. When the jaw is closed, the upper teeth are clearly visible in the animal. In large individuals, the eyes have a red tint, while the smaller ones have a green tint . Around the jaws of the crocodile there are small black spots. These are peculiar sensory fossae, allowing reptiles to detect the appearance of prey.

Alligators live exclusively in China and the United States. As food, they consume everything that they manage to catch. Their diet consists of small insects, snails, fish, birds, mammals, and large animals (deer, panthers, turtles).

Sexual maturity occurs when the length of the body of an alligator exceeds 180 centimeters. The mating season falls on the spring.