Crocodiles are exceptional animals that are unlike any other. They have a special body structure, massive paws and tail, impressive jaw size - all this indicates their power and predatory tendencies. They can stay in the water for a long time, but they prefer to hunt on land, and they often choose animals as targets that are larger in size than themselves. These creatures are extremely dangerous, because they also attack people. Among interesting facts about crocodiles many amazing and unusual things that will be interesting to get acquainted with.

1. Crocodiles and alligators are different animals, but due to their external similarity they are constantly confused, and some even believe that they are two identical concepts.

2. They are almost alone among other creatures on the planet, are direct descendants of dinosaurs that went extinct millions of years ago.

3. The most interesting fact about crocodiles describes where the expression “crocodile tears” came from. These reptiles are incredibly cunning. Having seen a place near a reservoir where potential prey converges to quench their thirst, they fill this place with water, carrying it with their mouths. Thus, they make the ground slippery and when the legs of an unsuspecting animal move apart, the predator lurking nearby will take advantage of the moment and there will be no chance to free itself from its grip.

4. The favorite period for these huge creatures is when the fish go to spawn. At such moments, all you need to feed yourself is to swim into the river, turn against the current and open your mouth. The fish itself jumps into the throat, only managing to swallow.

5. An interesting fact about crocodiles for children is that they have a kind of friendship with birds. Large predators, often on land, open their mouths and allow small birds to peck out the remains of meat stuck between their teeth, and at the same time never eat these birds.

6. In the circus, they are not as common as lions or tigers, because they are difficult to train and have one exceptional reflex. As soon as just a drop of water or sweat falls on the creature’s tongue, falling from the forehead of the trainer, who, to the applause of the audience, thrusts his head into the animal’s open mouth, the jaws immediately close. All representatives of this species are designed this way, so not many are willing to take such a risk.

7. Despite spending a long time in water, crocodiles lay their eggs on land. Their brood hatches at the same time and what is most surprising is that if the temperature has recently been above 25-30 degrees Celsius, then males will be born, and if lower, then females.

8. An interesting fact about the Nile crocodile, which is rightfully considered one of the most gigantic representatives of its species, tells about the incredible threat they pose to local residents. The proximity to the Nile River allows people to grow various crops and feed themselves, but a big side effect is the presence of such terrible predators almost at their doorstep.

9. The largest representatives of these reptiles were seen in Australia and India. Their body length reached and sometimes even exceeded 7 meters, and their weight was about a ton. But such dimensions do not prevent them from showing unprecedented dexterity and speed, and even reaching speeds of up to 45 km/h in water.

10. An interesting fact about crocodiles and turtles indicates the similarity of these two species. After all, like turtles, these predators are long-lived. They grow up in the period from 5 to 8 years, and sometimes live up to a hundred years, maintaining all the same agility and speed.

1. The largest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which is found in India, northern Australia and the Fiji Islands. Its length can reach 7 meters, and its weight can be 1 ton! Five-meter individuals weigh at least half a ton. Moreover, the eggs that the female lays are no larger in size than those of a goose.

The smallest crocodile is the dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), with adults barely reaching 190 cm in length. It is more land-dwelling than waterfowl.

2. The expression “crocodile tears” denotes ostentatious remorse and repentance. This myth originated from the fact that crocodiles were believed to cry while eating people. In fact, crocodiles do cry when they eat, but this happens for completely biological reasons. The air swallowed by the crocodile during feeding is mixed in a special way with the contents of the lacrimal glands and released in the form of abundant foamy “tears”.

3. Crocodile skin is considered one of the best for making various leather products (in general, this is cruel, but unfortunately, such a business exists). Only the skin of the abdomen is used industrially as it has softness and elasticity. Other places, especially the skin of the limbs and back, are not suitable for this - it is very strong and hard, and can often withstand a direct hit from a bullet. In many cultures around the world, crocodile skin is considered a sign of wealth and high status in society. A handbag made of crocodile skin can cost 10-20 thousand dollars or more, because of this, a large number of crocodiles are killed annually by poachers (their hands would be torn off). In a number of countries, hunting crocodiles in the wild is prohibited, and crocodiles are raised on special farms to obtain their skins.

4. In some cultures, the crocodile was considered a sacred animal, for example in Ancient Egypt. Even today, among some tribes of New Guinea, the crocodile is a totem symbol, and men undergo a painful procedure of mutilating their skin, after which it becomes covered with scars, making it look like a crocodile. The most interesting thing is that some tribes of Australian aborigines are considered masters in hunting crocodiles, while other tribes of the same Australian aborigines consider hunting crocodiles to be sacrilege.

5. The aggressiveness of crocodiles increases during the breeding season, which is associated with the rainy seasons.

6. The jaw of a crocodile contains 24 sharp teeth, capable of holding and biting prey, but not chewing. Therefore, they often swallow small stones to help them grind the contents of their stomach. These stones also act as ballast, helping the crocodile to submerge. The teeth are constantly renewed throughout the animal's life. The force of compression of the crocodile's jaws is enormous, but the muscles that open the mouth are so weak that the force of one hand is enough to prevent it from opening. The crocodile is able to very precisely control the force of compression of the jaws, and can both bite the femurs of large animals and transfer its offspring from the nest to the water. The crocodile's tail is also not a gift - its blows are very strong.

7. You can often see crocodiles lying for a long time with their mouths open. This is not an expression of aggression, but simple cooling. In this case, the dog sticks out its tongue, and the crocodile opens its mouth - excess heat and sweat come out with breathing.

Their modern species appeared about 83 million years ago, and their ancestors a quarter of a billion years ago.

2. The crocodile is one of the most ancient reptiles on the planet, a descendant of representatives of the archosaur subclass. This class includes dinosaurs and birds. Crocodiles are direct descendants of extinct dinosaurs. Therefore, despite the fact that crocodiles belong to the class of reptiles, their closest relatives are not turtles, lizards or snakes, but birds.

3.Crocodiles previously, 3 thousand years ago, lived exclusively in water, and their sizes reached 13 meters.

4. These animals live in all parts of the planet where the climate is humid and warm, in the tropics. This is Africa, North and South America, Australia, Guatemala, Bali and even Japan.

5. Modern classification divides crocodiles into 3 families, 8 genera and 24 species. Of the 23 surviving species of crocodiles, only three live in Africa.

6. Crocodiles spend most of the day in the water. They prefer fresh water bodies. However, excellent salt metabolism allows these reptiles to live even in very salty sea water.

7.Crocodiles are often confused with alligators. However, these are different animals, although similar. Crocodiles, unlike alligators, can live not only in fresh water, but also in salt water.

8.The family of true crocodiles includes the Nile, combed, Siamese, sharp-snouted and blunt-snouted crocodile. There is also the Australian narrowsnout.

9. The alligator family includes: Mississippi and Chinese, black and spectacled caiman.

10.Florida is the only place on earth where both crocodiles and alligators can be found in natural conditions.

11. Predators come to land in the morning or in the afternoon, when there is an opportunity to sunbathe.

12. In the foreseeable past, completely land crocodiles were still found in South America, but now they are no longer left - they have become extinct.

13. Leading an aquatic lifestyle, crocodiles, however, lay eggs on land.

14. In one sitting, a crocodile easily eats prey equal to one fifth of its own body weight.

15. Despite the fact that alligators are smaller in size, real crocodiles are more agile.

16.They rarely move on land, but if necessary they can cover long distances at a speed of 17 km/h.

17.Crocodiles can live for hundreds of years, sometimes even more.

18.A freshwater narrow-snouted crocodile lives in the Australia Zoo, whose age is estimated at 134 years.

19.Crocodiles reach maturity at the age of 5-10 years, depending on the species. Larger species grow more slowly.

20.The largest crocodiles can reach a length of 7 meters and weigh up to a ton. You can meet such a monster in the north of Australia, India and Fiji.

Dwarf crocodile

21. The smallest species of reptile is the dwarf, which barely reaches 2 meters in length and is terrestrial.

22. In Ancient Egypt there was a crocodile god, Sebek, in whose honor temples were built.

23.More people die from attacks by saltwater crocodiles off the coast of Australia than from attacks by a great white shark.

24. Many species of crocodiles are cannibals. They often eat their smaller brothers, and when they encounter a clutch of eggs, even if the babies have begun to hatch, they will definitely eat them all.

25. Any type of crocodile clenches its jaws with tremendous force, but the muscles themselves, which are responsible for opening the mouth, are very weak. Therefore, even a person can easily open the animal’s mouth. And the most powerful bite is that of the combed species; it can only be compared with the clenching of the jaw of a sperm whale or killer whale.

26. In the wild, crocodiles are extremely dangerous - for example, in the sparsely populated areas of Australia where they are found, you can often find signs warning about the presence of these reptiles in the vicinity. This precaution is very appropriate - crocodiles are usually not averse to snacking on unwary tourists.

27.The sex of baby crocodiles is affected by the temperature of the clutch. If the eggs were at an average temperature of about 32 degrees, then predominantly males hatch. If the temperature was higher or lower - females.

28. In the muscular stomach of the animal there are unique stones - gastroliths, which stimulate the process of grinding food and even give balance to the entire body during swimming. In the Kingdom of Thailand there are special farms where crocodiles are raised.

29. Gharials lead such a motionless lifestyle that their skin is overgrown with sea acorns - clusters of crustaceans.

30. In Australia, 40 people become victims of attacks every year, in Malaysia - 100, in Africa - over 1000.

31. All true crocodiles have a muzzle that resembles the letter “V”, while alligators and caimans have a muzzle that resembles the letter “U”.

32. Crocodiles have salt and lacrimal glands, which prevent salt from accumulating in the body, but alligators and caimans do not, so they are found in freshwater bodies.

Black caiman

33. Mummified reptiles were found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs. And in the records of Herodotus you can find a mention that high-ranking Egyptians even kept these animals as pets.

34. The gharial crocodile does not protect its clutch, which is easily destroyed by wild pigs, and therefore the population of this species has the lowest numbers and is in danger of extinction.

35.The length of an adult blunt-nosed crocodile is no more than one and a half meters. The smallest alligator, the smooth-faced caiman, is the same size.

Saltwater crocodile

36. The saltwater crocodile is the largest modern reptile, whose bite force exceeds that of any other predator, including white sharks.

37. On February 19, 1945, saltwater crocodiles killed about 1,000 Japanese soldiers who were trying to hide in the swamps from the British landing on Ramree Island. Only 20 Japanese soldiers managed to escape.

38.On average, crocodiles range from 2 to 5 meters in length. Some species grow up to 7 meters. On average, the weight of a reptile is from 400 to 700 kilograms. At the same time, the head weighs about 200 kg. Regardless of the species, females are approximately 2 times smaller than males. All crocodiles have: 9 cervical vertebrae; 17 vertebrae on the body; 35-37 vertebrae in the tail. The animal's teeth are cone-shaped. Average length - 5 cm.

39.Crocodiles are very cunning and patient. Having noticed a place where herbivores come to drink, crocodiles water the shore in this place with water, carrying it in their mouths so that the ground becomes slippery. If an animal approaches the water to drink and slips, it will inevitably become a victim of a crocodile.

40. The authorities of New York annually catch from 2 to 4 crocodiles thrown into the sewer by their owners.

Saltwater crocodile

41.Saltwater crocodiles hunt sharks, but in India they themselves sometimes become prey for tigers. The Nile crocodile is capable of killing a lion. Caimans play an important role in regulating the population of piranhas and capybaras.

42.All crocodiles are cold-blooded, and body temperature is completely dependent on the environment. But all individuals have osteoderms that perform a thermoregulatory function, so fluctuations in body temperature per day do not exceed two degrees.

43.Crocodiles cannot be trained, although in Burkina Faso there is a pond where local residents managed to do this; predators let you touch their tails and sometimes ride on their backs.

44. In 2007, a crocodile that escaped from its trainer lived in the Sea of ​​Azov for six months.

45. Some peoples of New Guinea still undergo a painful procedure to mutilate their skin to make it look like a crocodile.

46. ​​The marsh crocodile and the Mississippi alligator catch birds using bait. They hold branches in their mouths to attract birds looking for materials to build nests.

47. Inside each crocodile tooth there is a cavity where a new young one is formed as the old one is ground down. And the number of teeth, depending on the type, is from 72 to 100 pieces.

48.The cardiac muscle of a predator is four-chambered. And the blood contains antibiotics, which help protect against dirt and infection in case of damage.

Crocodile farm

49. In the Kingdom of Thailand, there are special farms where crocodiles are raised.

50.Crocodile meat is quite edible and is consumed by the population of various tropical countries.

The crocodile is a semi-aquatic vertebrate wild animal, belongs to the phylum chordata, class reptiles, order crocodiles (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, martens and. 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 has the shape of the English letter V, while the alligator's muzzle is blunt and more reminiscent of 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. The average length of an alligator does not exceed the average length of a crocodile. But if we compare the largest individuals, the American (Mississippi) alligator has a maximum body length of 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 spends the 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(Crocodylidae). Some of its varieties are of particular interest:

• Saltwater crocodile (saltwater crocodile)(Crocodylus porosus)

The largest 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. The appearance of the crocodile is dominated by pale yellow-brown colors, and dark stripes and spots are 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. Also, medium-sized mammals often become prey for the crocodile: wild boars, tapirs, dingoes, kangaroos, many species of monkeys, including orangutans. Domestic animals can also become prey: goats, horses, etc. Of the birds, the combed crocodile catches mainly waterfowl species, as well as sea and freshwater turtles, dolphins, and many types of sharks. Baby crocodile feeds on aquatic invertebrates, insects and small fish. Older individuals freely eat poisonous cane toads, large fish and crustaceans. Saltwater crocodiles practice cannibalism on occasion, never missing the opportunity to eat small or weak representatives of their species.

• Blunt crocodile(Osteolaemus tetraspis)

this is the smallest 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 of West Africa, shy and secretive, and lead a nocturnal lifestyle. They feed on fish and carrion.

• Nile crocodile(Crocodylus niloticus)

the largest reptile of the family after the saltwater 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 the water element. Even on land, conflicts over prey, such as with lions, involve a “tug-of-war,” and the crocodile still emerges victorious. - 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 buffalos 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(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 source of food for Siamese crocodiles are various types of fish, amphibians, and small reptiles. In rare cases, the crocodile feeds on rodents and carrion.

• Sharp-snouted crocodile(Crocodylus acutus)

the most common member 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 types of freshwater and saltwater fish. A significant part of the diet consists of birds: pelicans, flamingos,. At regular intervals, crocodiles eat sea turtles and livestock. Young reptiles feed on crabs, snails, as well as insects and their larvae.

• Australian narrow-snoutedcrocodile ( 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 portion of the adult diet consists of amphibians, waterfowl, snakes, lizards and small mammals.

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

• Mississippi alligator (American alligator) (Alligator mississippiensis)

a large reptile (reptile), the 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 by freezing its body into the ice and leaving only its nostrils on the surface. These alligators live in fresh water bodies of 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 turtles; among mammals they eat nutria, muskrats and raccoons. Baby alligators eat worms, snails, and 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)

• Chinese alligator ( Alligator sinensis)

a small species of alligator, which is also a rare species. Only 200 individuals live in nature. The color of the alligator is yellow-gray, there are 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, fish, snakes, and mollusks.

• Crocodile (spectacled) caiman(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 species of crocodile is distinguished by a narrow snout and a characteristic bony growth between the eyes, shaped like glasses. The small caiman has a yellow body color with black spots; the 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 or 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 snakes, for example, as well as wild boars and even other caimans.

• Black caiman(Melanosuchus niger)

one of the largest reptiles. The body length of a mature male can exceed 5.5 m, and the body weight can be more than 500 kg. A pronounced bony ridge, typical of all caimans, runs from the eyes along the entire length of the muzzle. The modern population, consisting of approximately 100 thousand individuals, lives in large rivers and lakes in South America. Adult black caimans eat large quantities of fish, including turtles and snakes. But the main part of the food is mammals: deer, capybaras, peccaries, coatis, sloths, armadillos, river dolphins, Brazilian otters. In certain areas of the range, the usual food of reptiles is various domestic animals, including cattle. Young caimans feed on snails, frogs and small fish species.

Gharial family(Gavialidae) consists of several genera and only 2 modern species:

• Gangetic gharial(Gavialis gangeticus)

a large representative of the order with a body growing up to 6 meters in length. Gharials, unlike real crocodiles, have a lighter constitution, so the weight of an adult individual generally does not exceed 200 kg. Gharials are distinguished by a characteristically narrow jaw shape, conveniently adapted for catching fish, as well as a maximum number of teeth - up to 100 pieces. Gharials live in the pools and knees of rivers in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The species is listed in the Red Book as particularly rare and has been completely exterminated in Bhutan and Myanmar. Due to its predominantly aquatic lifestyle, the Gangetic gharial feeds mainly on fish. Particularly large individuals occasionally attack small mammals and happily eat carrion. Baby reptiles are content with invertebrate animals.

• Gharial crocodile(Tomistoma schlegelii)

the closest relative of the gharial, with the same long, narrow snout and gigantic size. The body length of a crocodile can exceed 6 meters, but on average reaches no more than 5 meters. The color of the crocodile is chocolate brown with stripes on the body. The weight of a crocodile varies from 93 kg for females to 210 kg for males. This species of reptile has endangered status. A small population of crocodiles, consisting of 2.5 thousand individuals, lives in shallow, swampy rivers and lakes in Indonesia and Malaysia. The gharial crocodile, unlike its closest relative, the Gangetic gharial, only partly consumes fish, shrimp and small vertebrates. Despite the narrow snout, the main diet of the predator consists of pythons and other snakes, monitor lizards, turtles, monkeys, wild pigs, deer and otters.

Crocodiles are predatory exotic reptiles. In our latitudes they can only be found in zoos. Therefore, we have collected the most interesting facts about crocodiles in one article.

• 1. About 250 million years ago, the first crocodiles appeared on Earth. What is unusual is that at first their habitat was dry land. Then they gradually switched to semi-aquatic life.
• 2. The largest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile or Crocodylus porosus. It is found in the Fiji Islands, India and northern Australia. The length of this creature can reach seven meters and weighs a ton. But the eggs laid by the female, as a rule, are no larger than those of a goose.

• 3. The hatched crocodile is three times longer than its egg.
• 4. The swimming speed of crocodiles is 40 kilometers per hour. They run even less - up to 11 kilometers per hour over short distances. But the impressive size of crocodiles does not prevent them from jumping two meters out of the water.

• 5. Crocodiles have 64 to 70 teeth in their jaws. Their exact number depends on the species. But these teeth are not designed for chewing food. They help to capture and tear apart the victim. Teeth change up to a hundred times in a lifetime. The jaws of a crocodile can close with incredible force. This occurs due to well-developed compressive muscles. It is also interesting that the muscles that unclench the jaw are not strong. Therefore, you can close the crocodile's mouth by wrapping it with tape.
• 6. To help their stomach cope with large pieces of food, crocodiles swallow stones. In addition, these boulders play the role of ballast when diving to depth.

• 7. A male crocodile can have up to twelve females. He often calls on his harem to help cut up large carcasses of prey.
• 8. On average, crocodiles live up to 50 years. But there are also centenarians aged 110 years.

• 9. Interesting facts about crocodiles also concern their skin. It is considered one of the best and, accordingly, expensive materials for the manufacture of haberdashery goods. Did you know that only soft leather from the belly of a crocodile is suitable for handbags, gloves, straps, and shoes? Everything else is unsuitable for this, because it is tougher and rougher.
• 10. There is a substance in the blood of crocodiles, a natural antibiotic (crocodiline), which prevents the suppuration of wounds and inflammation of the skin.

• 11. Osteolaemus tetraspis is the smallest dwarf crocodile species, with adults barely reaching two meters. In addition, it is a land crocodile.

• 12. At one time, a crocodile can eat a portion of food whose weight is 23% of its own weight. At the same time, 60% of food is processed into fat. These reserves allow crocodiles to starve for a long time without harming their health.
• 13. The term “crocodile” translated from Greek means “stone worm.”

• 14. There are salt glands on the tongue of crocodiles, through which excess salt water is removed from their body.
• 15. Crocodiles cannot be trained. However, in Burkina Faso in Africa there is a pond with tamed crocodiles. They are fed by local residents, for which the reptiles are allowed to touch their tails. You can even ride these crocodiles. Naturally, tourists will not miss such an attraction!