What type of animals are crocodiles

Broad-Snouted Caiman. Black Caiman. American Alligator. Any Questions? Links Site Map Privacy Policy. Newsletter Sign Up. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

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Performance performance. Analytics analytics. Advertisement advertisement. It grows to about 5. The largest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile. The largest one ever found was They can weigh up to 2, pounds kg. Crocodiles are carnivores, which mean they eat only meat. In the wild, they feast on fish, birds, frogs and crustaceans. At the zoo, they eat small animals that have already been killed for them, such as rats, fish or mice.

They also eat live locusts. In the wild, crocodiles will clamp down on their prey with their massive jaws, crush it, and then they will swallow the prey whole. They do not have the capability to chew or break off small pieces of food like other animals. To help with digestion, crocodiles swallow small stones that grind up the food in their stomachs. Thanks to their slow metabolisms, crocodiles can survive for months without food. During the Mesozoic Era , about million years ago, the Crocodilia order was one of the top animals on the food chain.

Today, crocodiles are found in the tropical habitats of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. They normally live near lakes, rivers, wetlands and even some saltwater regions. She covers the nest with leaves and other vegetation. The rotting vegetation keeps the eggs warm and the nest moist. The incubation temperature for crocodile eggs is 28 — 32 degrees Celsius, relative humidity is 95 — per cent, incubation period is 70 — 80 days.

The female stays and guards the nest until the eggs hatch. The hatchlings call out and the female crocodile opens up the nest and carries them to the water, where they immediately start feeding on crabs, shrimps and insects.

About half will not survive the first year due to predators. The oldest crocodilians are estimated to have lived around 71 years on average and there is limited evidence that some individuals may exceed years. One of the oldest crocodiles recorded died in a zoo in Russia apparently aged years old.

The larger species of crocodiles can be very dangerous to humans. Mugger crocodiles and possibly the endangered Black Caiman , are also very dangerous to humans. American alligators are less aggressive and rarely assault humans without provocation. Image Source. You can find the various species in rivers, river mouths, swamps, lakes, billabongs, reservoirs, estuaries, and more. You can find various species on every continent except Antarctica.

They live primarily along the Equator across their ranges. Three species live throughout various regions of Africa, and the remaining seven species reside throughout southern Asia, northern Australia, and the islands between them.

Each species has its own unique range and distribution. Many species have overlapping populations. Some live across vast areas while others reside in just a small region. These reptiles are carnivorous creatures that only eat meat.

Their diets vary drastically based on where they live, how large they are, and their species. Hatchlings and juveniles feed on insects, incest larvae, small fish, shrimp, frogs , and other small aquatic creatures.

Adults feed on turtles , monkeys, snakes , large fish, and even large hoofed mammals. They are ambush predators. Despite their large size, these crocodilians hide beneath the water with only their nostrils and eyes showing.

When prey approaches too close to the water, they lunge forward and grab them in their powerful jaws.