Crocodiles are a family of crocodiles that are large aquatic reptiles that live in the tropics of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They prefer to congregate in freshwater such as rivers, lakes and swamps.
It also sometimes lives in semi-saltwater. Some species, such as the Bay Crocodile in Australia and the Crocodile in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, also live on the waterfront. Crocodiles vary greatly depending on the species. The smallest is the pygmy crocodile, and the largest is the bay crocodile that lives in northern Australia and Southeast Asia.
They are very old animals and they have not changed much since the time of the dinosaurs.
Crocodile genus
The American crocodile is mainly distributed in the Pacific Ocean from Florida and Mexico in North America to Peru and Venezuela in South America. Within the United States, it is only distributed in South Florida.
The American crocodile is 3.2-4.8 meters long and weighs 180-450 kilograms, with larger males. The largest individual record was 6.1 meters in total length and 907 kilograms in weight.
It inhabits mangroves, swamps, and other wetlands at the junction of brackish and fresh water. It mainly eats fish, birds, mammals, turtles, crabs, frogs, and occasionally carrion.
American crocodiles lay eggs in April and May, laying 30-70 eggs per clutch, and the incubation period is 75-80 days, during which the male and female jointly guard the nest.
The Orinoco crocodile is a large freshwater crocodile found mainly in Venezuela and Colombia in South America in the lower reaches of the Orinoco River. It is the top predator of opportunism, and any creature that moves within its territory is its food, including fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Males are 3.6-4.8 m in total length and weigh 380-635 kg;
Females are 3–3.3 m long and weigh 225–317 kg.
Based on a photograph taken in 1800 with an Orinoco crocodile, it was speculated that the total length of the individual could reach 6.6 meters. Due to the large number of Olinokos crocodiles now hunted, large individuals are difficult to see.
The Orinoco crocodile nests in a cave on the riverbank and lays eggs during the dry season, about 40 eggs per day, and the incubation period is 2.5-3 months.
The Guatemalan crocodile, also known as the Mexican crocodile and the Moreyre crocodile, is found in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala in North and Central America. It inhabits swamps, ponds and lagoons and prefers waters with lush vegetation. Adults feed on mammals, birds, and other reptiles, while juveniles feed mainly on fish and insects.
Guatemalan crocodiles are 2.2-3 meters long and weigh 38-58 kg. Males are larger.
Females of Guatemalan crocodiles build very large nests near the water, about 3 meters long and about 1 meter wide. The breeding season is from April to June, with 20-45 eggs laid, the incubation period is about 80 days, and the hatching of young crocodiles is about 17 cm long.
Cuban crocodile, mainly distributed in South America Cuba's Zapata swamp and Youth Island, Cuban crocodile mainly inhabits freshwater swamps and wetlands. In its infancy, it feeds mainly on fish and invertebrates, and in adulthood it feeds on turtles and other mammals. Extremely brave and fierce, able to jump out of the water with his whole body to hunt.
The Cuban crocodile is 2.1-2.3 meters long and weighs 70-80 kg. Mature large males can reach 3.5 meters long and weigh 215 kg.
Cuban crocodiles usually lay their eggs in May, laying 30-40 eggs per clutch.
The Cuban crocodile was nearly extinct in 1959. As a result, the Cuban Government captured hundreds of wild Cuban crocodiles in the wild between 1959 and 1960 for conservation purposes in feedlots. After a conservation program, the Cuban crocodile began to rebuild its population. There are currently 3 large feedlots in Cuba.
The Australian freshwater crocodile is endemic to Australia and is found in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. It mainly inhabits lagoons, rivers, depressions, swamps and other waters. Although they can tolerate seawater, they do not have the same adaptability as bay crocodiles. Adult Australian freshwater crocodiles feed mainly on small animals such as birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and bats. Although they attack humans when threatened, they do not have a strong bite force to severely damage humans.
The Australian freshwater crocodile is a small and medium-sized crocodile with a total length of 2.1-3 meters and a weight of 40-70 kg. Males are larger.
Australian freshwater crocodiles spawn in August-September, usually at night, with 13-20 eggs laid and an incubation period of 65-95 days. Australian freshwater crocodiles do not guard their nests and leave after laying their eggs.
Bay crocodile, also known as piranha crocodile, estuarine crocodile, saltwater crocodile, Malay crocodile. It is suitable for living in coastal and tidal zones in different wetlands, such as estuaries, mangroves, swamps and other places, and the tolerance of this species to seawater is greater than that of general crocodiles. With a high sense of territory, any creature that enters its realm is considered prey, including humans.
The bay crocodile is located at the highest level of the wetland food chain. The larvae prey on insects , amphibians , crustaceans , tiny reptiles and fish , and adults prey on larger animals , but feed mainly on mud crabs , turtles , monitor lizards and water birds , and some larger adults even prey on buffalo , livestock , wild boar and monkeys.
In Australia, the bay crocodile has a record of cannibalism and even attacking ships, so it is also called "man-eating crocodile".
The total length of the bay crocodile is up to 5 meters, and the total length of the female is 2.5-3 meters. Guinness World Record: The largest male bay crocodile, 7.1 meters in total length and 2000 kilograms in weight. The bay crocodile is the only crocodile in the order crocodile that does not have large scales on the nape of its neck, also known as the "naked-necked crocodile".
Bay crocodiles use rotting grass as a nest and lay 20-90 eggs at a time. After 75-96 days, hatching young crocodiles with a total length of 25-30 cm.
Bay crocodiles are mainly distributed in Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji.
The bay crocodile is protected in most countries, but the effectiveness of conservation in some countries is questionable. The best internationally recognized conservation is in Papua New Guinea and Australia, where wild populations are sustainably used and growing. A conservation management plan similar to that of the two countries is now being tested and implemented in Indonesia.
The Philippine crocodile, also known as the Philippine freshwater crocodile, is found only in the Philippines. It inhabits freshwater swamps, tributaries of rivers, small lakes and ponds. Feeds on fish, invertebrates, small amphibians and reptiles. They are an amazing predator, able to catch large prey.
The total length of the Philippine crocodile is 1.5-3.1 meters; the weight is 15-36 kg. Philippine crocodiles have a golden medium brown color that darkens as they reach adulthood. The snout is relatively wide and the body is relatively small, and the male is generally larger than the female.
They number about 500-1000 in the wild. In 2008, the AMERICAN website "Living Science" named the Philippine crocodile one of the top ten most endangered rare animal species in the world. In the Philippines, although the killing of such crocodiles is strictly prohibited, their distribution is under constant development and non-sustainable fishing methods.
New Guinea crocodile, distributed on the island of New Guinea. They are nocturnal animals that inhabit mainly freshwater wetlands and, although capable of tolerating salt water, are difficult to spot in coastal waters. It feeds on birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and small mammals. At present, the survival of this species is also threatened by overhunting.
The New Guinea crocodile is a small crocodile with a total length of 2.7-3.5 meters. Males are larger.
New Guinea crocodiles lay 10-48 eggs per clutch for an incubation period of 83-91 days.
Swamp crocodile, distributed in southern Asia in India, Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It inhabits wetlands such as swamps, rivers, reservoirs, ponds, etc., and prefers to move in shallow water areas less than 5 meters deep. Food ranges from insects, fish, frogs, snakes, water birds to mammals. Because the swamp crocodile is small in average, it is easy to become food for beasts of prey such as bay crocodiles and tigers.
The swamp crocodile is 2.45-3.2 meters long and weighs 200-250 kilograms, with larger males. The largest individual recorded was 5.2 meters in total length and weighed more than 500 kilograms.
Swamp crocodiles breed in February-April, laying 10-48 eggs per clutch, with an incubation period of 55-75 days, and the young crocodiles are about 25 cm long. Females mature at 6 years and males mature at 10 years.
The Siamese crocodile, also known as the Thai crocodile, is a crocodile species that inhabits freshwater wetlands in Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei and Myanmar in Southeast Asia. It feeds on fish and also eats amphibians, reptiles and small mammals.
The Siamese crocodile is 2.1-3.2 meters long and weighs 70-150 kg, with larger males. Large males can reach a total length of up to 4 meters and weigh 350 kg. The two orbits are preceded by a pair of short, sharp ridges, and a distinct orbit between the two orbits on the forehead.
In captivity, Siamese crocodiles breed during the rainy season (April-May) with 20-50 eggs laid by females guarding the eggs until they hatch.
The Nile crocodile is a large crocodile that occurs in Africa and the island of Madagascar, inhabiting mainly rivers and lakes. At night, you will be in the water, and at sunrise, you will go ashore to sunbathe. They prey on antelopes, zebras, buffaloes, etc., and can even hunt hippos, lions and humans.
The Nile crocodile is 2.4-5 meters long and weighs 225-550 kg, with larger males. The Nile crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa, with the largest individual recorded for evidence coming from Tanzania, with a total length of 6.47 meters and a weight of about 1090 kg.
The Nile crocodile has a rich vocal range, as well as good hearing. Their skin is perceptive and can respond to changes in water pressure.
Female Nile crocodiles will dig holes in sandy river banks to make nests, each time can produce 25-80 eggs, the incubation period is about 3 months, and the newly hatched juvenile crocodiles are about 30 cm long. Sexual maturity at 12-15 years.
Pygmy crocodile genus
Pygmy crocodile, also known as African pygmy crocodile, West African dwarf crocodile. It is found in west and central Africa, mainly inhabiting tropical rainforests, wetlands, ponds and swamps. The guts are small, and when threatened, they immediately dive into the water and hide in caves at the bottom of the river. Catch crabs, frogs and fish at night for consumption.
The pygmy crocodile is the smallest crocodile in the world, with a total length of 1.5-1.9 meters and a weight of 18-40 kg. The body color is light brown at a young age, with black spots and short stripes, and turns black brown in adulthood.
They spend most of their time alone and are only with the opposite sex during mating. They build their nests with rotting plants and mud. 10-20 eggs are laid at a time, and the incubation period is 85-100 days.
This article is the first issue of "Ancient Reptile-Crocodile", a species within the alligator family.