What length units are used to measure crocodiles? How much does a crocodile weigh? The smallest and largest crocodile

The Nile crocodile is a representative of the class Reptiles or Reptiles. 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 are practically no equals to it in strength and adaptability. In this article you will find a description and photo Nile crocodile, you can learn a lot of new things about this strong and greatest predator.

The Nile crocodile looks scary and belongs to the Crocodilidae family. He is huge, very strong and has excellent camouflage. The predator has short legs, which are located on the sides of the body, scaly skin, a long combed tail and powerful jaws. The eyes, ears and nostrils of a crocodile are located at the top of the head. The reptile has extremely good hearing and vision.


The Nile crocodile looks inconspicuous due to its coloring. Juveniles are usually gray or light brown in color and have dark stripes on the back and tail. The older the individual gets, the darker the color becomes. The reptile's belly has a yellow tint. The massive, muscular tail of the Nile crocodile serves as a kind of accelerator and allows it to move quickly in the water. It occupies almost half the length of the reptile's entire body.


The jaw of the Nile crocodile holds 65 teeth and is one of the strongest on the planet. The predator can easily hold large animals and crush bone.


Thanks to the sensory organs located on the top of the head, the crocodile can almost completely submerge in water. This allows the animal to camouflage itself by hiding in the water, leaving only its eyes and the tip of its nose on the surface, while its large and long body hidden underwater.


The Nile crocodile looks massive and is the largest crocodile. This predator is the second largest crocodile in the world. Male Nile crocodiles are significantly larger than females.

The average size of adult males ranges from 3 to 5 meters in length. In this case, body weight 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 body weight of 200 to 500 kg. But there are also individual larger females.

Where does the Nile crocodile live? Features of behavior

The Nile crocodile lives in Africa and is one of the largest crocodiles on this continent. Inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers and swamps throughout almost the entire African continent. It is most common in African countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Zambia and Ethiopia. The number of Nile crocodile is quite high and stable, but in some countries of the continent this species is endangered.


The Nile crocodile lives in calm waters, with sandy coastal zone. It is not often that it can be found at a considerable distance from a body of water. This is usually associated with the search for a new habitat, and also if the reservoir dries up. Most often, the crocodile crawls on its stomach, but can run short distances at speeds of up to 14 km/h.

The Nile crocodile is a very experienced and successful swimmer. It usually dives for 2-3 minutes, but can remain underwater for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Submerges completely and silently under water, displacing air from its large lungs. The Nile crocodile swims very quickly underwater. The tail helps to reach speeds in water of up to 30 km/h. Its ears, nose and throat are protected by valves, and its eye is covered with a thin transparent film. This predator has special receptors throughout its body. Thanks to which he easily picks up water vibrations and finds with what strength and where they come from.


The Nile crocodile lives a leisurely life - they are usually 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. Also, opening the mouth is a sign of threat to other crocodiles. Nile crocodiles are very hostile and territorial predators.

Crocodiles can hibernate during the summer, which lasts from May to August. To do this, they dig a hole on the river bank. Once underground, where it is dark and cool, the animal's body temperature drops, and its metabolism, breathing and heartbeat slow down. In this state, energy is consumed minimally. This way the crocodile can retain enough strength until it needs it.


For many centuries, the large Nile crocodile has lived on the planet, causing horror, because it is capable of instantly and brutally killing both animals and people. The Nile crocodile has no enemies among other animals. Only man is opposed to a predator. The Nile crocodile is hunted for its skin.

Nile crocodile, combining large sizes And high level 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. It can attack a person when he is standing in the water near the shore, crossing shallow water, crossing a body of water, or lowering his feet into the water from a ship or pier.

Less often, especially large and hungry Nile crocodiles can capsize a boat or even attack on land. Most at risk fishermen and people whose activities involve water are exposed. Careless hunters, tourists and travelers also become victims of crocodiles.

Nile crocodiles often attack humans, but they are not afraid of people, and perceive them as potential food. Female crocodiles who protect their cubs are very dangerous. Anyone who tries to get close to the offspring will be eaten.

What does the Nile crocodile eat and how does it hunt?

Adult crocodiles are on top food chain– there are no predators that would threaten them. This prehistoric animal eats everyone and everything in its path. The Nile crocodile is one of the the strongest predators in the world. The Nile crocodile eats quite variedly. The crocodile is practically omnivorous. And the older and larger it is, the more food it needs and the larger its prey becomes.


Juveniles can get by on large fish and birds. As the Nile crocodile gets older, it feeds on larger animals that come to drink or cross the river. These are zebras African buffalos, wildebeest. It can attack elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, hippopotamuses and even lions. Nile crocodiles hunt by submerging completely under water, or leaving only their eyes and nostrils on the surface. It always attacks unexpectedly, jumping out of the water and almost instantly grabbing its victim.


In water, the Nile crocodile is highly mobile, using stealth, receptors and strength to find and capture its prey. It is virtually impossible to escape from it. It bites with an impressive force of 1 ton and tries to drown the victim. The reptile's jaws are equipped with muscles that contract extremely quickly, making the bite lightning fast and allowing the jaws to snap shut at a speed of 9 m/s.


The Nile crocodile attacks prey at close range. He approaches and waits until the victim is 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 push off the river bottom, and long tail allows you to accelerate in the direction of production.


Their ability to successfully camouflage underwater, combined with high speed and explosive power, make Nile crocodiles excellent hunters of large prey. They can tolerate each other around and work as a group when attacking large prey.


The teeth of Nile crocodiles allow them to hold the body of the victim in their mouths and pierce it, but they do not know how to chew. However, this is not a disadvantage - the enormous bite force and body power allow Nile crocodiles to easily break bones and cut through the body of a large animal, bite off limbs and drown. They tear off pieces from a large carcass and swallow them whole. Their stomach is adapted for digesting large foods, in which anything can be dissolved, thanks to the high concentration of hydrochloric acid.

When a group of Nile crocodiles divides large prey, some of them hold the carcass, while others rotate around their axis, tearing out large pieces of meat from it. This is called a "death spin". Relatively small animals, Nile crocodiles mercilessly swallow whole. On land they are less mobile. They have a relatively slow metabolism and can go long periods without food. But given the opportunity, a Nile crocodile can eat half its body weight at a time.

Baby Nile crocodile - survival of baby crocodiles

During the mating season, males attract females in every possible way by doing various movements and making various noises. Nile crocodiles become capable of reproduction at the age of 10-12 years, reaching a body length of 3 meters for males and 2 meters for females. Large males are usually more attractive to females.

Egg laying time occurs from September to December. Sandy beaches and river banks are chosen for nest construction. 2 months after a successful mating season, the female digs a hole up to 50 cm deep, two meters from the shore and lays an average of 40-60 eggs.


Having laid eggs, the female buries the nest for 3 months. She attacks anyone who tries to approach the nest. Despite such protection, many nests are destroyed by other animals if the female leaves. As the Nile crocodile cubs hatch, they begin to squeak and the mother tears open the nest. For many of them, the first moments of life are the last. Newborn Nile crocodile cubs have a body length of about 30 centimeters.


Nile crocodile babies are born at the bottom of the food chain - anyone can eat them. The female carries her cubs from the nest in her mouth to the nearest body of water. Cartilages located in the mother's mouth allow the jaw to be locked at any time of closure and tension to be regulated. The female can even lock her mouth open just 5cm, allowing her to carry up to 20 babies at a time without ever biting them.


The female has to make several passes, leaving the cubs in danger. While the female is not there, other predators hunt them. Less than half of the hatchlings will survive the first month of life. But the surrounding danger and the age of one month cannot keep the baby crocodile from doing what is inherent in them by nature - hunting and killing from the very beginning of their lives. They attack everything small that moves - insects, frogs, fish, the babies immediately grab them.


The mother takes care of the offspring for two years. In two years, crocodiles reach a size of 1.2 m and leave their native places. They look for a more suitable place to live, while avoiding the territories of older and larger crocodiles. The average lifespan of Nile crocodiles is 45-50 years, but there are long-livers up to 85 years old.

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Crocodiles are a unique group of reptiles with a specific way of life. There are 22 species of crocodiles in the world, which form a separate order. In terms of body structure, crocodiles are very different from other reptiles and in their origin are closest to dinosaurs. For this, in the class of Reptiles they are even separated into a separate subclass, Archosaurs (that is, Ancient Lizards).

Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

Crocodiles are usually divided into real crocodiles and alligators (which also include caimans), but outwardly they differ only in that alligators have a snout with a wide, blunt end, while crocodiles have a narrowed snout.

The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) feeds only on fish, which is why its snout is greatly narrowed.

Size different types varies from 1.5 m in length in the blunt-nosed crocodile to 10 m in the Nile crocodile. All crocodiles have an elongated, slightly flattened body, a short neck and a large head with a greatly elongated muzzle. The legs of crocodiles are short and located, like all reptiles, on the sides of the body, and not under the body, as in birds and mammals. This arrangement of limbs leaves an imprint on the way crocodiles move.

The crocodile's paws have webbed membranes.

All crocodiles have a long and thick tail. The tail is flattened laterally and serves as a rudder, engine and temperature regulator. It is characteristic that the eyes and nostrils of crocodiles are located on the top of the skull. This allows animals to breathe and see while their body is completely submerged in water. In addition, crocodiles are able to hold their breath and can stay under water for up to 2 hours without surfacing.

Crocodile underwater.

Crocodiles have a small brain, but they are the most intelligent of all reptiles. They also have another progressive feature. Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals. But it turned out that crocodiles, by straining their body muscles, can arbitrarily warm up the blood so that their temperature is 5-7 degrees higher than the temperature environment.

The body of crocodiles is covered with thick skin. Instead of the small scales that cover the body of other reptiles, crocodiles have large scutes. Their shape and size differ in different parts of the body and form a unique pattern. In many species of crocodiles, the scutes are additionally strengthened by subcutaneous bone plates, which on the head are fused with the bones of the skull. These plates create a kind of armor, making the crocodile's body invulnerable to attack from the outside. All crocodiles have a protective coloration: black, gray, dirty brown. Albino crocodiles are extremely rare. white. In nature, such animals usually do not survive.

The alligator is an albino.

Crocodiles are heat-loving animals and live only in the tropics and subtropics. They inhabit almost all parts of the world, except Antarctica and Europe. All crocodiles are aquatic animals, closely associated with bodies of water. The vast majority prefer to settle in small lakes and rivers with quiet currents.

The Mississippi alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) lives in impenetrable swamps.

But saltwater crocodiles inhabit sea lagoons and river deltas. These crocodiles, native to Australia and Oceania, often swim across wide sea bays and straits between islands.

Crocodiles are slow, but cunning. They spend most of their time motionless, lying in shallow water or passively drifting with the current. Often crocodiles become so frozen that birds and turtles mistake them for trees and climb onto their backs.

The crocodile mistook the body of his relative for a log and climbed onto it to dry off.

But this calmness is deceptive: as soon as the potential victim reaches the limits of its reach, the crocodile makes a sharp lunge. The powerful tail plays a significant role in this, with the movements of which the crocodile throws its body forward. The splash of water attracts other crocodiles and they instantly swim to the victim from all over the area.

A crocodile catches a heron who carelessly tried to sit on him.

Permanent stay in cool water reduces body temperature, and therefore overall metabolism. In order not to “freeze,” animals are forced to crawl onto land and bask on the shore for several hours. On land, crocodiles are also practically motionless.

Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus) basking in the sun.

They move along the ground by crawling, clumsily spreading their paws and wagging their bodies from side to side. However, sometimes crocodiles can switch to a completely “combat” step, keeping their legs under their body. In case of extreme danger, a crocodile can even gallop at a speed of 12 km/h!

A crocodile crosses the road.

Crocodiles feed on any animal food that can be found in the water or on the shore. They mainly eat fish, as well as small animals and birds swimming in the pond. Young crocodiles, unable to attack such game due to their size, are content with hunting insects, mollusks, and frogs. But the largest species of crocodiles prefer not to waste time on trifles: they lie in wait for large animals that come to drink - buffalos, zebras, antelopes.

A crocodile caught a swimming wildebeest.

Crocodiles do not “discriminate ranks” and attack not only defenseless ungulates, but also lions, hippos and even elephants. The jaws of a crocodile have enormous strength. Moreover, he has special structure teeth: in a crocodile they are located asymmetrically, so that the large teeth of the upper jaw correspond to the small ones of the lower jaw. Thus, the teeth close together like a castle, making it almost impossible to escape from his mouth.

A saltwater crocodile rests with its mouth open.

But this jaw structure results in one problem for crocodiles - they can grab the victim, but cannot chew. Therefore, crocodiles either swallow it whole or tear off large pieces in a special way: they clamp part of the carcass in their teeth and begin to spin around their axis in the water, thereby “unscrewing” a piece of meat.

Crocodiles are solitary animals, but they calmly tolerate the proximity of their own kind. In waters rich in food, crocodiles constantly monitor the behavior of their fellows and, at the slightest sign of a meal, rush to join it. According to some observations, Nile crocodiles are able to coordinate their actions while hunting, surrounding and driving the prey into a ring.

Crocodiles eat a zebra together.

But friendly feelings are alien to crocodiles, they do not protect their brothers, and with a significant difference in size, a large crocodile is quite capable of eating a smaller one. It’s not for nothing that a hypocritical person is said to “shed crocodile tears.”

IN mating season males exhibit possessive instincts, defending the territory from the invasion of competitors. Having met, the males start fierce fights. After mating, the female makes a nest on the shore from mud and grass and lays 20-100 eggs in it. She is constantly near the nest, often without food, and protects it from any attacks. The incubation period depends on the ambient temperature and lasts 2-3 months.

Crocodile's nest.

At the moment of hatching, the crocodiles emit a peculiar squeak and the mother immediately rushes to their aid. The female often takes the eggs in her teeth and gently rolls them around in her mouth, helping the newborns get rid of the shell. Newborn crocodiles are completely independent and immediately rush to the water; sometimes their mother helps them get to the reservoir: the crocodile takes the babies in her mouth and carries them to the water itself. In the first days, the female reacts sensitively to their voice, protecting them from all enemies. After a couple of days, the babies disperse throughout the pond and lose contact with their parent. The life of small crocodiles is very dangerous: in addition to numerous predators, crocodiles themselves can encroach on them. An adult crocodile will not fail to dine on its own offspring, so young crocodiles spend their first years constantly hiding in the thickets. But even so, the mortality rate reaches 80%. The only thing that saves crocodiles is that they grow very quickly at first. In the first 2 years of life, their size increases 3 times, then growth slows down. Crocodiles are animals that do not have a growth endpoint; they grow throughout their lives! And these reptiles live a long time - on average 60-100 years.

Despite their dangerous disposition, crocodiles themselves are very vulnerable and have a lot of enemies. Many large animals can match their strength to crocodiles. For example, lions lie in wait for small crocodiles on land, where they are clumsy, and hippos even in water are quite capable of biting a crocodile in half. Elephants that are attacked by crocodiles as infants can trample the predator to death as adults. In South America, crocodiles are hunted by jaguars and anacondas. But the biggest danger for crocodiles is... small animals! Herons and storks en masse catch small crocodiles, and on the ground they are joined by a whole army lovers of crocodile eggs. Crocodiles' nests are destroyed by turtles, monitor lizards, baboons, hyenas, and mongooses.

People have been afraid of crocodiles since ancient times, because attacks by crocodiles on people are not uncommon. However, fear subsided when the unsurpassed qualities of crocodile skin were discovered. For this reason valuable material They started hunting crocodiles in industrial scale and the fate of many species was threatened. The problem was partially alleviated by breeding crocodiles in captivity on special farms. Due to their low intelligence and pronounced predation, crocodiles cannot be tamed; it is impossible to control the behavior of these animals. However, owners of crocodiles often organize special shows to demonstrate the “abilities” of their pets. Such false training is based on subtle manipulation of animal physiology, because a well-fed and even simply “hypercooled” crocodile is very passive. Despite this, accidents are not uncommon at such shows.

Currently, the condition of many species is alarming due to the destruction of the natural habitats of crocodiles.

The Mississippi alligator is endangered.

Where do the largest crocodiles in the world live? Since these terrible reptiles are excellent swimmers in the open sea and love to travel, they can be found on the coasts of Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, eastern India, Australia, central regions Vietnam and Japan.

The world's largest crocodile - (Crocodylus porosus). It is also called lumpy, spongy or sea, because external features- its muzzle has two ridges or is covered with tubercles. The length of males is from 6 to 7 meters. Maximum length saltwater crocodile was recorded more than 100 years ago in India. The killed crocodile reached 9.9 meters! The weight of adult individuals is from 400 to 1000 kg. Habitat - southeast Asia, in the Philippines, Solomon Islands.

Saltwater crocodiles feed on fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, but large individuals are not so harmless and attack buffalos, wild pigs, antelopes, and monkeys. They often lie in wait for prey at a watering hole, grab the muzzle with their jaws and knock them down with a blow from their tail. The jaws are clenched with such force that they can crush the skull of a large buffalo. The victim is dragged into the water, where he can no longer actively resist. They attack people very often.

A female saltwater crocodile lays up to 90 eggs. She builds a nest out of leaves and dirt. Rotting foliage creates a humid, warm atmosphere, the temperature in the nest reaches 32 degrees. The sex of future crocodiles depends on temperature. If the temperature is up to 31.6 degrees, then males will be born, if higher - females. This species of crocodiles has great commercial value, so it was mercilessly exterminated.

(Crocodylus niloticus) is the second largest after the saltwater crocodile. It lives along the banks of lakes, rivers, and in freshwater swamps in sub-Saharan Africa. Adult males reach 5 m in length, weighing up to 500 kg, females are 30% smaller in size.

Crocodiles reach sexual maturity at 10 years of age. During the mating season, males slap their muzzles on the water, snort, roar, and try to attract the attention of females. The life expectancy of the Nile crocodile is 45 years. And although the crocodile’s main food is fish and small vertebrates, it can hunt any large animal and is also dangerous for humans. A crocodile was caught in Uganda, which kept local residents in fear for 20 years and claimed 83 human lives.

The largest crocodile is considered to be Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius), inhabitant South America. Its length can reach 6 m. It feeds mainly on fish. There have been cases of attacks on humans. In the hot season, when the water level in reservoirs drops, crocodiles dig holes on the banks of rivers. Today this very rare species can be found in lakes and rivers of Colombia and Venezuela. The population has been severely exterminated by humans; there are about 1,500 individuals in nature.

Among the largest reptiles are also sharp-snouted American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), 5-6 meters long. Habitat: South America. It feeds on fish, small mammals, and can attack livestock. It rarely attacks a person, only if it poses a threat to the crocodile or offspring. Adults adapt well to salt water and swim far out to sea.

Another representative of the largest crocodiles in the world, 4-5 meters long - marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris, Indian)- the habitat of Hindustan. It settles in shallow bodies of water with standing water, most often in swamps, rivers and lakes. This animal feels confident on land and can move long distances. It feeds mainly on fish and reptiles, and can attack large ungulates on the shore of a reservoir. It attacks people very rarely. The marsh crocodile itself can become prey for a tiger, a saltwater crocodile

The crocodile is a semi-aquatic vertebrate wild animal, belongs to the phylum chordata, class reptiles, order crocodiles (lat. Crocodilia).

The predator received its Russian name thanks to the Greek word “crocodilos,” which literally means “pebble worm.” Most likely, this is what the Greeks called the reptile, whose lumpy skin looks like a pebble, and whose long body and characteristic body movements resemble a worm.

IN sea ​​water The crocodile feeds on fish, saw-nosed stingrays and even stingrays, including white stingrays, the size of which is not inferior to, and often exceeds in length, the attacking crocodile. The menu consisting of mammals is especially varied. A successful hunt brings a crocodile for dinner, a monitor lizard, a wild boar, a buffalo or.

Often the prey of a crocodile becomes, and. Crocodiles also eat monkeys, raccoons, martens, etc. If given the opportunity to have a snack, they will not hesitate to attack any domestic animals, be it cattle or cattle. Some crocodiles eat each other, that is, they do not hesitate to attack their own kind.

How does a crocodile hunt?

Crocodiles spend most of the day in the water, and hunt only after dark. The reptile swallows small prey whole. In a duel with a large prey, the crocodile's weapon is brute force. Large land animals, such as deer and buffalo, are guarded by a crocodile at a watering hole, attacked suddenly and dragged into the water, where the victim is unable to resist. Large fish, on the contrary, are dragged into shallow water, where it is easier to deal with prey.

The massive jaws of a crocodile easily crush a buffalo’s skull, and strong jerks of the head and a special “deadly rotation” technique instantly tear the prey apart. Crocodiles do not know how to chew, therefore, having killed the victim, they twist out pieces of suitable flesh with their powerful jaws and swallow them whole. Crocodiles eat quite a lot: one lunch can account for up to 23% of the mass of the predator itself. Often crocodiles hide part of the prey, but the supply does not always remain intact, and is often consumed by other predators.

  • The crocodile belongs to the crocodile family, the alligator belongs to the alligator family. Moreover, both reptiles belong to the order crocodiles.
  • The main difference between a crocodile and an alligator is the structure of the jaw and the arrangement of the teeth. When the crocodile's mouth is closed, one or a pair of teeth on the lower jaw always stick out, while the alligator's upper jaw is completely covered by a predatory grin.

  • Also, the difference between a crocodile and an alligator lies in the structure of the muzzle. The crocodile's muzzle is pointed and shaped English letter V, the alligator's muzzle is blunt and more like the letter U.

  • Crocodiles have salt glands in the tongue and lacrimal glands in the eyes to remove excess salts from the body, so they can live in the sea. Alligators do not have such glands, so they mainly live in fresh water bodies.
  • If you compare the size of a crocodile and an alligator, it is difficult to say which reptile is larger. Average length an alligator does not exceed the average length of a crocodile. But if we compare the largest individuals, the American (Mississippi) alligator has maximum length body no more than 4.5 meters (according to unofficial data, the only maximum recorded length of one individual was 5.8 meters). And the world's largest saltwater crocodile, with an average body length of 5.2 meters, can grow up to 7 meters in length.
  • The average weight of a Mississippi alligator (it is larger than a Chinese one) is 200 kg, with the maximum recorded weight reaching 626 kg. The average weight of a crocodile depends on the species. Yet some species of crocodiles weigh much more than alligators. For example, the weight of a sharp-snouted crocodile reaches 1 ton, and the world's largest saltwater crocodile weighs about 2 tons.

What is the difference between a crocodile and a gharial?

  • Both the crocodile and the gharial belong to the order Crocodiles. But the crocodile is part of the crocodile family, and the gharial belongs to the gharial family.
  • The crocodile has salt glands located on the tongue and special lacrimal glands in the eye area: through them, excess salts are removed from the crocodile's body. This factor allows the crocodile to live in salty sea water. The gharial does not possess such glands, therefore it is a resident of absolutely fresh water bodies.
  • It is easy to distinguish a crocodile from a gharial by the shape of its jaws: the gharial has rather narrow jaws, which is justified by hunting only fish. The crocodile has wider jaws.

  • The gharial has more teeth than the crocodile, but they are much smaller and thinner: the gharial needs such sharp and thin teeth to tenaciously hold caught fish in its mouth. Depending on the species, a crocodile has 66 or 68 teeth, but the gharial can boast of having hundreds of sharp teeth.

  • Another difference between a crocodile and a gharial: of the entire family of crocodiles, only the gharial conducts maximum time in the water, leaving the reservoir only to lay eggs and to bask a little in the sun. The crocodile spends about a third of its life in bodies of water, preferring water over land.
  • Crocodiles and gharials differ very slightly in size. Male gharials usually have a body length of 3-4.5 meters, rarely reaching 5.5 meters in length. Crocodiles are not far behind their counterparts - the length of an adult male varies between 2-5.5 meters. And yet, seasoned males of some species of crocodiles often reach 7 meters in length. In terms of weight, crocodiles win this round: the saltwater crocodile can reach a mass of 2000 kg, and the Gangetic gharial has a modest weight of 180-200 kg.

What is the difference between a crocodile and a caiman?

  • Although crocodiles and caimans belong to the order Crocodilia, caimans belong to the alligator family and crocodiles belong to the crocodilian family.
  • The external differences between a crocodile and a caiman are as follows: crocodiles are distinguished by a pointed V-shaped snout, caimans are distinguished by a blunt and wide U-shaped muzzle.
  • Another difference between reptiles is that crocodiles have special salt glands on their tongues. Through them, as well as through the lacrimal glands, crocodiles get rid of excess salts, so they feel equally good in both fresh and salt water. Caimans do not have this feature, therefore, with rare exceptions, they live only in clean fresh water bodies.

Types of crocodiles: names, descriptions, list and photos.

Modern classification divides the order of crocodiles into 3 families, 8 genera and 24 species.

Family of real crocodiles(lat. Crocodylidae). Some of its varieties are of particular interest:

  • Saltwater crocodile (saltwater crocodile)(lat. Crocodylus porosus)- most big crocodile in the world, a mega-predator firmly established at the top of the food chain. Other names for this reptile are submarine crocodile, man-eating crocodile, salty, estuarine and Indo-Pacific crocodile. The length of a saltwater crocodile can reach 7 meters and weigh up to 2 tons. The species got its name thanks to 2 massive bony ridges running along the snout from the edge of the eyes. In appearance The crocodile's colors are predominantly pale yellow-brown, with dark stripes and spots visible on the body and tail. The salt water lover is a typical inhabitant of rivers flowing into the ocean, and also lives in sea lagoons. Saltwater crocodiles often live in the open sea and are found on the northern Australian coast, in Indonesia, the Philippines, India and off the coast of Japan. Crocodiles' food is any prey that a predator can catch. These can be large land animals: buffalos, leopards, grizzlies, antelopes, pythons, monitor lizards. The crocodile also often preys on medium-sized mammals: wild boars, tapirs, dingoes, kangaroos, and many species of monkeys, including orangutans. Domestic animals can also become prey: goats, etc. Of the birds, mainly waterfowl species, as well as marine and freshwater, and many species fall into the mouth of the combed crocodile. Baby crocodile feeds on aquatic invertebrates, insects and small fish. Older individuals freely eat poisonous cane toads, big fish and crustaceans. Saltwater crocodiles practice cannibalism on occasion, never missing the opportunity to eat small or weak representatives of their species.

  • Blunt crocodile(lat. Osteolaemus tetraspis)- this is the most small crocodile in the world. The body length of an adult is only 1.5 meters. The male weighs about 80 kg, the female crocodiles weighs about 30-35 kg. The color of the reptile's back is black, its belly is yellow, with black spots. Unlike other types of crocodiles, the reptile has skin well armored with hard plates-growths, which compensates for the lack of growth. Blunt-snouted crocodiles live in fresh water bodies West Africa, timid and secretive, lead night look life. They feed on fish and carrion.

  • Nile crocodile(lat. Crocodylus niloticus)- the largest reptile of the family after the combed crocodile, lives in Africa. The average body length of males is from 4.5 to 5.5 meters, and the weight of a male crocodile reaches almost 1 ton. The color of the crocodile is gray or light brown, with dark stripes on the back and tail. The reptile is one of 3 species that live in African countries and have no equal in water element. Even on land, a conflict that arises over prey, for example with lions, is a “tug of war”, and the crocodile still emerges as the winner. - a typical inhabitant of rivers, lakes and swamps located south of the Sahara Desert, including the Nile River basin. The Nile crocodile feeds on fish: Nile perch, tilapia, black mullet, African pike and numerous representatives of cyprinids. And also mammals: antelopes, waterbucks, gazelles, oryx, warthogs, chimpanzees and gorillas. Often all types of domesticated animals become prey for the crocodile. Particularly large individuals attack buffaloes, and young African elephants. Young Nile crocodiles eat amphibians: the African toad, the changeable reed frog and the goliath frog. The young feed on insects (crickets), crabs and other invertebrates.

  • Siamese crocodile(lat. Crocodylus siamensis) has a body up to 3-4 m long. The color of the crocodile is olive green, sometimes dark green. The weight of a male reaches 350 kg, the weight of females is 150 kg. This species of crocodiles is listed in the Red Book as endangered. Today the population numbers no more than 5 thousand individuals. The species' range extends through the countries of southeast Asia: Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and is also found on the island of Kalimantan. The main food source of Siamese crocodiles is various types, small . In rare cases, the crocodile feeds on rodents and carrion.

  • Sharp-snouted crocodile(lat. Crocodylus acutus)- the most common representative of the family. The species is distinguished by a narrow, characteristically pointed snout. Adult males grow up to 4 m in length, females up to 3 m. The weight of a crocodile is 500-1000 kg. The color of the crocodile is grayish or greenish-brown. Crocodiles live in swampy areas, rivers, and fresh and salt lakes in North and South America. Sharp-snouted crocodiles eat most species of freshwater and sea ​​fish. A significant part of the diet consists of birds: pelicans, flamingos,. With a certain periodicity, crocodiles eat marine and livestock. Young reptiles feed on crabs, as well as insects and their larvae.

  • Australian narrow-snoutedcrocodile (lat. Crocodylus johnstoni) is a freshwater reptile and is small in size: males grow no more than 3 meters in length, females up to 2 meters. The animal has an uncharacteristically narrow muzzle for a crocodile. The color of the reptile is brown with black stripes on the crocodile's back and tail. A population of about 100 thousand individuals inhabits freshwater bodies of northern Australia. The Australian narrow-snouted crocodile feeds primarily on fish. A small part of the diet of adults consists of waterfowl and small mammals.

Alligator family(lat. Alligatoridae), in which the subfamily alligators and the subfamily caimans are distinguished. This family includes the following varieties:

  • Mississippi alligator (American alligator) (lat. Alligator mississippiensis) - large reptile(reptile), males of which grow up to 4.5 m in length with a body weight of about 200 kg. Unlike the crocodile, the American alligator can withstand the cold and can hibernate with its body frozen into the ice and leaving only its nostrils on the surface. These alligators live in fresh water bodies North America: dams, swamps, rivers and lakes. The Mississippi (American) alligator, unlike crocodiles, rarely attacks large animals. Adult alligators feed on fish, waterfowl, water snakes and among mammals they eat nutria, muskrats and raccoons. Baby alligators eat worms, as well as insects and their larvae. Some alligators do not have enough melanin pigment and are albino. True, a white crocodile is rarely found in nature.

White crocodile (albino)

  • - a small species of alligator, which is also rare species. Only 200 individuals live in nature. The color of the alligator is yellow-gray, with black spots on the lower jaw. The average length of an alligator is 1.5 meters, the maximum reaches 2.2 meters. The weight of the predator is 35-45 kg. Alligators live in China, in the Yangtze River basin. They feed on small birds and mammals, mollusks.

  • Crocodile (spectacled) caiman(lat. Caiman crocodilus) - a relatively small alligator with a body length of up to 1.8-2 m and a weight of up to 60 kg. This type of crocodile is different narrow muzzle and a characteristic bony growth between the eyes, shaped like glasses. Little cayman has yellow bodies with black spots, an adult crocodile has olive green skin. The reptile has the widest range of all alligators. The caiman lives in low-lying, stagnant bodies of fresh and salt water from Mexico and Guatemala to the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. Due to its small size, the caiman feeds on mollusks, small fish, freshwater crabs, as well as small reptiles and mammals. Seasoned individuals occasionally attack large amphibians and, for example, as well as wild boars and even other caimans.


It's not surprising that people are afraid of crocodiles. These predatory reptiles have lived on our Earth for the past 83.5 million years. In addition, crocodiles can be classified as the worst cannibals in the world. Crocodiles living in the Nile are responsible for more deaths than any other predator that attacks people.

Due to the danger that these predators have, as well as their long history, we decided to present to your attention a rating of the largest crocodiles that live on our Earth in at the moment time.

The largest crocodile in the world

African narrow-snouted crocodile


An adult African narrow-snouted crocodile is about 3.3 meters long and weighs about 200 kg. These reptiles have exclusively sharp teeth, as well as a tendency towards aggression towards people, which is why some African tribes try to avoid rivers. In general, the main diet of these crocodiles consists of fish, snakes and amphibians.

Gharial crocodile


The gharial crocodile grows on average up to 4 meters, and their weight is up to 210 kg. Female crocodiles are usually much smaller than males; But in 2008, in Kalimantan, a female gharial crocodile was killed and eaten and, remarkably, the length of the predator was more than 4 meters.

Swamp crocodile


On average, marsh crocodiles grow up to 3.3 meters and weigh about 225 kg. These predatory reptiles prefer to hunt from ambushes. They hide for a long time muddy water and wait for prey, then, choosing the right moment, attack it and drag it under water. Next, the crocodile can only wait until the victim suffocates in the water. People also know of cases where swamp crocodiles hunted on the ground, near hidden forest paths.

Mississippi alligator


Mississippi alligators, on average, are about 3.4 meters long and weigh 240 kilograms. People have repeatedly managed to see giants whose length reached 5.3 m.

These reptiles have one of the most strong bites in the animal world - its approximate force is 9452 Newtons. But what makes Mississippi alligators vulnerable is their very weak jaw opening muscles.

Gangetic gharial


Ghanaian gharials average 4.5 meters in length, with some specimens reaching 6.25 meters, making them one of the longest crocodiles in the world. But with such a huge length, these reptiles weigh only up to 250 kg. They are also one of the most endangered crocodile species - in wildlife There are about 235 individuals left living in the wild.

Sharp-snouted American crocodile


This is the fifth representative of our list of the largest crocodiles in the world. Sharp-snouted American crocodiles are about 4 meters long, and their weight is on average 335 kg. These predatory reptiles can move at speeds of about 10 miles per hour on land and 20 miles per hour in water. This is one of the most dangerous possibilities of crocodiles when attacking a person.

Black caiman


The average length of a black caiman is about 3.9 meters and its weight is 350 kg. Black caimans often hunt dangerous prey such as piranhas and anacondas. There are not too many references in the world to the attacks of these crocodiles on people, but nevertheless they still remain one of the most dangerous.

Orinoco crocodile


The Orino crocodile is an endangered reptile species that can only be found in Colombia and Venezuela. On average, adult individuals grow up to 4.1 meters in length and weigh 380 kg, but there are individuals that weigh more and are longer. In the 20th century, they were actively hunted.

Nile crocodile


The Nile crocodile is the second largest species of crocodile in the world. Their length reaches about 4.2 meters, and their average weight– 410 kg. Nile crocodiles are aggressive and opportunistic predators. Every year, about 275-745 attacks on people are recorded annually, and 63% of which were fatal.

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