Do crocodiles live in the Nile? Where does the crocodile live, in what country? Animal lifestyle, natural habitats

The Nile crocodile is a reptile, from the family of crocodiles, the second largest, after the saltwater comb.

Living in the rivers, lakes and swamps of central and southern Africa, this ancient ferocious predator, devours almost all living things that come across it on the way.

In terms of size, the Nile crocodile is simply a giant, on average its length is from 5 to 5.5 meters, and its weight often reaches a ton. This is the most big crocodile currently living in Africa.

The Nile is the most ancient animal in Africa. According to scientists, it has existed on earth for tens of millions of years and is a descendant of a prehistoric archosaur, a contemporary and relative of the dinosaur and the beast lizard. The appearance of this semi-aquatic monster speaks for itself. A huge elongated body, covered with ossified plates, on short curved legs, a powerful vertically flattened tail, a large flat head and a huge mouth with jaws studded with numerous wedge-shaped teeth, betray in it a strong and ruthless predator, which it essentially is.

For a long time, these crocodiles have bred in the waters of almost all of Africa. south of the desert Sahara. This was facilitated by a favorable warm climate, a large number of water, a lot of vegetation and, as a result, a rich animal world in abundance provided crocodiles with food. For many years of living in these fertile places The Nile crocodile became the most big predator Africa, which everyone began to fear, both animals and people.

In ancient times, being helpless against the incredible power of this ferocious monster, people equated it with a deity capable of either blessing or punishing a person. He was prescribed the ability to control the waters of the Nile, the main water artery Egypt. This is how the cult of the god Sebek appeared, a creature with a human body and a crocodile head. This was beneficial to the power of the pharaohs, and they contributed to the creation of a whole system of planting and maintaining this cult. Pharaoh Ptolemy II even built a whole temple of this deity in the city of Shedite, later renamed Crocodilopolis by the Greeks, which was the center of worship for this deity. In this temple, the Nile crocodile was kept in luxury as the earthly incarnation of the god Sebek. This went on for many centuries, and since not a single crocodile could live so long, it was periodically changed, and the bodies of the dead crocodiles were mummified and stored in specially made sarcophagi. All this obscurantism ended only with the arrival of the Romans in Egypt.

Whatever it was in ancient times, ordinary Nile crocodiles still exist today, and very well. They live in massive colonies in the valleys of large African rivers, where herds of wild animals are still preserved, always coming to the water, which crocodiles need. Crocodiles cannot chase antelopes across the savannah, although juveniles basking in the sun sometimes try to show agility by rushing at a nearby antelope, zebra or young buffalo, but they very rarely succeed. The tactics of adult crocodiles is that they calmly, hiding in the water up to their very nostrils and eyes, wait for a herd of these harmless animals to come to a watering place and start drinking water. Then, almost silently, the crocodile swims up to the intended victim, with a sharp blow of the tail against the bottom, throws its body forward and grabs the animal that did not have time to jump back. There was an antelope and no ...

The second option is when herds of animals begin to migrate, changing pasture locations. Then they are simply forced to cross the river, where only agility and speed can save them. Who did not have time, that expects death from crocodile teeth. Although crocodiles are very ferocious, they never hunt for future use. If a crocodile has caught an antelope or a zebra, then he will take care of his meal and he does not care about other animals running nearby. So the animal that died in the teeth of a crocodile, by its death, makes it possible for fellow tribesmen to stay alive. In addition to animals, Nile crocodiles do not disdain birds and turtles, in principle, all that they come across are monkeys, and porcupines, and pigs, and all other living creatures. Among the crocodiles there are their own, so to speak, "thugs", who rush to animals that are much larger than them in size, such as hippos or elephants. And, oddly enough, sometimes they succeed, although the crocodile most often cannot cope alone with a multi-ton elephant or hippopotamus. Cases of attacks by the Nile crocodile on humans are not uncommon, therefore, in some African countries he was called the cannibal crocodile.

Nile crocodiles are one of the long-livers of the Black Continent. On average, the Nile crocodile lives about 40 years, but in favorable conditions it can live up to a hundred years, although usually only a few succeed. These large crocodiles have almost no enemies other than lions and humans. Well, if lions are faced mainly by units of the crocodile tribe, then people are a threat to the entire crocodile family. Due to the high demand for the skin of the Nile crocodile, they have been ruthlessly killed for many years and are endangered in some countries. complete disappearance. Now their population is more or less stable in Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Kenya, Morocco, and on some islands: Madagascar, Cape Verde, Zanzibar, mainly due to the creation national parks, where hunting for them is prohibited, and for the reproduction of the skin, they create special farms for growing crocodiles.

The number of crocodiles is replenished by the peculiarity of their reproduction. During the mating season, the female Nile crocodile lays 50-60 eggs. Of course, not all of them hatch, because there are many people who want to crocodile eggs, such as hyenas, baboons, and people too, but at least a couple of dozen cubs of a crocodile next year saves. And if not for hunting them, they could well be a serious threat to the population of Africa. It seems that this decline somehow also maintains a balance in nature, although now the Nile crocodile is listed in the Red Book.

One of the most formidable creatures inhabiting Africa is considered to be the Nile crocodile. This toothy predator terrifies not only animals, but also people. The Nile crocodile is a member of the crocodile family of reptiles. There is an opinion that crocodiles shed tears all the time, there is even such a famous aphorism “crocodile tears” - are they really so big and strong predators really cry? Of course not. It's just all about special structure eye, which is constantly bathed in fluid from a nearby gland, which creates the image of a crying animal.

And what else is remarkable about the appearance of the Nile crocodiles?

These animals are the owners of a huge and toothy mouth that can terrify anyone who sees this spectacle. No animal would want to become the prey of this bloodthirsty creature. The head of the crocodile has an elongated shape, on the very top of the head are the eyes and nostrils. Such a location of the organs of vision and smell allows the predator to hide in the reservoir, almost completely immersed in water.

An adult Nile crocodile grows up to 5 meters in length! It weighs almost half a ton. Armed with sharp and strong teeth, the mouth contains, on average, 68 teeth.

The skin color of a crocodile is predominantly dark green, with black spots sometimes visible on the back. But with age, the skin of all Nile crocodiles becomes paler.

Habitat of the Nile crocodile

Nile crocodiles inhabit the entire territory of the African continent: in Madagascar, south of the Sahara desert and in the basin of the longest river in the world - the Nile, from which the Nile got its name.

Animal lifestyle, natural habitats

This reptile chooses to live in places located along the banks of lakes and rivers, in addition, it is found in swampy areas and mangroves.

Jaws of a crocodile - the most formidable weapon, with which only the jaws of a white shark can compete

It leads a daytime lifestyle, and at night it prefers to sit out in the water. The time for hunting with the Nile crocodile is early in the morning.

It moves on land on short legs, almost crawling, so the speed of movement on land is low, which cannot be said about swimming in water: here the Nile crocodile can reach speeds of up to 30 km / h! Well, it’s worth frankly admitting that it’s much more difficult to swim away from him than to run away!

Among the features of this animal, one can note its ability long time be underwater without air. If necessary, the Nile crocodile can sit still under the surface of the water for as long as 30 minutes! He is the same champion in nutrition. Due to its composure and slow metabolism, a crocodile can do without food for a very long time. But if he gets the opportunity to have a hearty meal, he will never refuse and can eat prey, which by weight will be equal to half the mass of the predator itself.

So what does the "thunderstorm of the Nile banks" feed on?

Depending on their own size, these reptiles can eat both small animals (dragonflies and other insects) and larger animals (ranging from mollusks, fish and birds and ending with buffaloes, l and). Such is the diverse “table” of the Nile crocodile.

Reproduction and offspring of the Nile crocodile

The birth of new individuals of Nile crocodiles occurs by laying eggs by the female. One clutch contains about 50 pieces. The development of small crocodiles inside the egg takes about 90 days. After that, having got out of the nest, they stay close to their mother. The readiness to free themselves from maternal care appears in young individuals only after two years.

The crocodile cubs themselves become fully mature only in the eighth - twelfth year of life. In total, in the wild, Nile crocodiles live for about 45 years.

Enemies of the Nile Crocodile

Because of their formidable disposition and appearance, these reptiles have no rivals and enemies in nature, but they do not always succeed in escaping from human hunting. The value of their skin, which is in great demand in the fashion world, causes massive capture and destruction by humans. In this regard, the Nile crocodile is included in the Red List of the World Conservation Union.

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The Nile crocodile (lat. Crocodylus niloticus) is a large reptile of the family of real crocodiles. The largest of the 3 crocodile species found in Africa and the second largest in the world after the combed crocodile. Known as the man-eating crocodile due to its habitat, size and strength, it was an object of fear and worship in ancient times. To date, perhaps the most famous view crocodiles. In general, the abundance of the species is relatively high and stable, although populations in some countries are under threat of extinction.

Appearance

Like all crocodiles, the Nile crocodile has short legs, located on the sides of the body, scaly skin covered with rows of bone plates, a long strong tail and powerful jaws. Crocodile eyes are equipped with a third eyelid for added protection and have special glands that allow them to be washed with tears (hence the expression "crocodile tears"). The nostrils, ears and eyes are located at the top of the head, thanks to which the crocodile can almost completely submerge in water, leaving them on the surface.

The coloring of the Nile crocodile also allows it to go unnoticed. Juveniles are usually gray or light brown with dark stripes on the back and tail. With age, the color darkens and the stripes become less noticeable. The belly has a yellow tint, such skin is considered the highest quality.

Usually a crocodile crawls on its stomach, but can also walk with its torso elevated. Medium-sized individuals are able to run a short distance at a gallop, developing a speed of 12-14 km / h. It also swims quickly (30 km/h) making sinusoidal movements with its tail.

Physiology

The heart is four-chambered, like in birds, which makes it possible to saturate the blood with oxygen more efficiently. Usually the Nile crocodile dives for 2-3 minutes, but if necessary, it can stay under water for up to 30 minutes, and with reduced activity - up to two hours. Being a cold-blooded animal, it has a relatively slow metabolism and can long time go without food, but at the same time is able to eat up to half its own weight in one sitting.

The Nile crocodile has fairly good hearing and a rich vocal range. His skin is equipped with special receptors that respond to changes in water pressure. The jaws have impressive strength, which allows them to hold large animals. Usually has 64-68 conical teeth - 36-38 on the upper jaw and 28-30 on the lower. Newly hatched crocodiles have a special tooth-like skin seal on the front of their snout that helps them get out of the egg.

Dimensions

The Nile crocodile has large sizes, usually about 5 m, occasionally up to 5.5 m. Weight often exceeds 500 kg, there are individual specimens weighing over 1200 kg. The largest known specimen was killed in Tanzania in 1905: length 6.45 m, weight 1090 kg. Reports of 7-meter crocodiles have not been confirmed. At the southern border of the range - in South Africa, Nile crocodiles are somewhat smaller in size, their length usually does not exceed 4 m. Like other types of crocodiles, it exhibits sexual dimorphism - females are on average 30% smaller than males. In general, the differences are less than in many other species.

Crocodiles living in colder climates, such as southern Africa, are smaller - about 4 m. The pygmy Nile crocodile, living in Mali and the Sahara Desert, grows only up to 2-3 m. It is believed that such differences in size are the result of worse living conditions, not genetic differences.

reproduction

AT normal conditions The Nile crocodile becomes sexually mature by the age of ten, when it reaches a length of 3 m for males, 2-2.5 m for females. During the mating season, males attract females by slapping the water, roaring, snorting, and making other noises. Large males are usually more attractive to females. During mating games pairs "sing" peculiar trills and rub with the undersides of the muzzle.

The time of egg laying largely depends on latitude - in the north of the range it falls on the dry season, and in the south it is usually tied to the beginning of the rainy season - November or December. In Zimbabwe, females lay their eggs in September or early October. Favorite places for building nests - sandy beaches, dry riverbeds and banks. The female digs a hole up to 50 cm deep two meters from the shore and lays from 20 to 85 eggs (average 50). Several females may build nests close to each other.

After laying eggs, the expectant mother covers the nest with sand and guards for a 3 month incubation period. The father is usually nearby as well, and both parents will attack anyone who tries to get close to the nest. Despite such care, many nests are destroyed by people, monitor lizards and other animals if the mother leaves to hide from the heat or take a dip in the water.

Hatched cubs make chirping sounds, and at this signal, the mother breaks the nest. Parents sometimes take the eggs in their mouths and squeeze them between the tongue and palate to help the offspring free themselves. Then the female leads the crocodiles to the water or carries them in her mouth.

As with other crocodiles, the sex of the young is determined by temperature during the middle third of the incubation period, not genetically. If the temperature inside the nest was below 31.7 ° C or above 34.5 ° C, then females are born, otherwise males.

Newly hatched crocodiles have a length of about 30 cm, in the first years they grow quite quickly. The mother takes care of the offspring for two years. If several nests were close to each other, mothers can take care of their offspring together, forming a kind of crocodile nursery. In two years, young crocodiles reach a size of 1.2 m and leave their native places, while avoiding the territories of older and larger crocodiles. Average duration The life of the Nile crocodiles is 45 years, there are specimens up to 80 years old.

Nutrition

Newly hatched crocodiles feed on insects and aquatic invertebrates, moving on to amphibians, reptiles, and birds fairly quickly. The diet of even adult crocodiles is 70% fish and other small vertebrates, despite the fact that a crocodile can eat almost any animal that comes to a watering hole, with the exception of adult elephants and hippos. The Nile crocodile also eats carrion, although it avoids rotten meat. A group of crocodiles can go hundreds of meters from the shore to get to the corpse of a large animal.

An adult crocodile uses its body and tail to push a school of fish towards the shore and eats it with a quick movement of its head. Crocodiles can also form a group and block migrating fish by becoming a semi-circle across the river. In this case, the dominant crocodiles eat first.

It is known that Nile crocodiles can successfully attack zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, young hippos and rhinos, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, monkeys, felines, as well as other crocodiles. The ability to hide almost completely under water, combined with high speed over short distances, makes crocodiles good hunters of big booty. They grab it with powerful jaws, drag it into the water and hold it there until it drowns. When the prey is dead, they tear off pieces from it and swallow it. When dividing the joint prey, they coordinate efforts to break the body, and for this purpose they can also push it under snags or stones.

The Nile crocodile poses a danger to humans, although to a lesser extent than combed crocodile. Females are especially dangerous during the period of caring for offspring, when they become especially aggressive towards any animal approaching the nest. Most attacks take place far from civilization and are not recorded, so the real number of victims is unknown. According to some sources, it is 1,000 people a year, according to others - 200. In 2005, a crocodile was caught in Uganda, which, according to local residents, ate 83 people in 20 years. In 2006, in Botswana, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, Richard Root, became a victim of a crocodile.

The Nile crocodile is thought to have a symbiotic relationship with some birds, such as the spurred lapwing (Vanellus spinosus). According to some reports, the crocodile opens its mouth wide, and at this time the bird takes out pieces of meat stuck in its teeth. However, these reports have proven difficult to verify and may not be a true symbiotic relationship.

Distribution and protection

The Nile crocodile prefers to live along the banks of rivers and lakes and in freshwater swamps, sometimes found in brackish water, in estuaries or mangroves. It is distributed throughout almost all of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Madagascar and in the Nile basin. Once lived much further north - the fossil remains of this animal were found in Algeria, Israel and Jordan, as well as in the Comoros.

In the 1940s - 1960s, the Nile crocodile was actively hunted, mainly for its high quality skin, to a lesser extent because of the meat and alleged organs medicinal properties. This led to a multiple reduction in the number of the species, as a result of which there was a threat of its extinction.

The Nile crocodile is widespread in many countries of southern and East Africa such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, the population is controlled and documented.

The Nile crocodile is listed on the Red List of the World Conservation Union for the category of minimal risk. The crocodile trade is regulated international convention according to Appendix I of CITES.

Titles: Nile crocodile.
Given the wide range of distribution of the Nile crocodile, several varieties have evolved that are rarely mentioned in the literature and none of the varieties are officially recognized as subspecies status:
- East African Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus africanus;
- West African Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus chamses;
- South African Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus corviei;
- Malagasy Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus madagascariensis;
- Ethiopian Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus niloticus;
- Kenyan Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus pauciscutatus;
- Central African Nile crocodile - Crocodylus niloticus suchus.

area: Distributed throughout Africa, except for its northern part, in Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles. In ancient times, it lived in Egypt and Palestine, but today it is not found below the second threshold on the Nile. In Southwest Asia (in the Tserka River, Israel), the Nile crocodile has been exterminated quite recently. The species has been recorded in the following countries African continent: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast - Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi , Mali, Mozambique, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone ( West Africa), Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Description: In the Nile crocodile, the length of the muzzle does not exceed its width at the base by more than twice. 4-6 occipital scutes arranged in one transverse row and 4 large occipital scutes form a square, the first transverse row of which is bordered on the sides by two smaller scutes. Dorsal shields are rectangular, oriented in regular longitudinal and transverse rows; dorsal scutes of median pair of longitudinal rows do not differ from other dorsal scutes. The skin of crocodilians, unlike others, grows with them, so there is no molting process in crocodilians. The eye and nostrils of crocodiles are located at the top of the head, so they can see and breathe while the rest of the body is submerged in water. Unlike other reptiles, they have external ears that close, as do the nostrils when crocodilians dive. Another adaptation for life in water is the third eyelid, a membrane that covers the eyes while diving underwater, thus protecting the eyes from the effects of water without losing the ability to see. By appearance You can't tell the sex of a crocodile. The male has a penis, but it is only temporarily removed mating season. All crocodilians have a leathery growth at the back of the throat that blocks water from entering. respiratory organs when the animal is under water. This allows you to keep the mouth open underwater without the risk of choking. Crocodiles swallow small stones that settle in their stomach and help grind food. According to some researchers, the pebbles in the stomach serve the crocodile as a ballast. Total teeth 64-68.

Color: Young Nile crocodiles are dark olive and brown in color with a black cross pattern on the body and tail. In adults, the pattern fades and becomes paler

The size: The Nile crocodile reaches a length of up to 5 meters (according to some reports up to 6 meters). There is evidence that the Nile crocodiles living in the southern regions of Africa (in countries with a cooler climate) reach smaller sizes - up to 4 meters. There are two varieties of dwarf Nile crocodiles found in Malawi and the Sahara Desert. Because of adverse conditions, these species reach sizes of 2-3 meters.
The cubs that have just hatched from eggs are about 28 cm long, by the end of the first year of life they reach 60 cm, by two years - 90 cm, at 5 years old - 1.7 m, at 10 years old - 2.3 m and at 20 years old - 3.75 m

The weight: 272-910 kg.

Lifespan: More than 50 years.

Voice: The Nile crocodile is capable of emitting a cry that looks like a dull moo. He screams only when he is very excited. Young crocodiles, recently hatched from an egg, make a peculiar croaking sound, reminiscent of the cheerful chirping of frogs.

Habitat: Inhabits a wide variety of water bodies: lakes, rivers, freshwater swamps, reservoirs with brackish water. Most often settled outside forest areas, but also enters forest reservoirs.

Enemies: Young Nile crocodiles can be attacked by goliath herons, marabou,. There are known cases of the death of fairly large crocodiles from. For adult crocodiles, the main enemy is man.

Food: The food of the Nile crocodile is very varied and changes with age. Teenagers feed on small aquatic and, as they grow, large vertebrates are added to the diet. Individuals about 2.5 m long feed on mollusks, and even larger ones feed on fish, reptiles, and mammals. Adult Nile crocodiles can attack large mammals such as buffalo and even, although fish and small vertebrates make up most their diet.

Behavior: Nile crocodiles spend the night in the water, and by sunrise they go out to the shallows and bask in sunshine. Midday, the hottest hours are spent in the water, with the exception of cloudy days. In windy, inclement weather, the animals spend the night on the shore. The maximum duration of stay under water for crocodiles up to 1 m long is about 40 minutes; larger individuals can be under water for much longer. Crocodiles swim with the help of their powerful paddle-like tail. Only the hind legs are webbed, but they are rarely used for moving underwater. On land, the crocodile moves on short, seemingly weak legs. When walking, he puts his paws close to the body, and rises above the ground. Sometimes they move at a gallop, like. At the same time, they lean on their front paws, and the hind legs are carried out beyond the front ones, transferring the weight of the body to them and then throwing their hind legs forward. The speed that Nile crocodiles can reach when galloping is 29 US miles per hour. Adults can migrate far from their habitats when they grow up to 1.2 meters. An adult crocodile, as a rule, does not move away from the water, and only when its reservoir dries up, it rushes in search of a new home. At this time, many crocodiles die without reaching their goal.
When hunting for fish, the crocodile beats with its tail in order to frighten and stun it, it swallows the stunned fish. Sometimes crocodiles cooperate for hunting, for example, one crocodile blocks off an area of ​​water in order to increase the concentration of fish in it.

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Description

The Nile crocodile for many centuries inspires fear and horror in all living organisms that live next to it. Mentions of this reptile date back to the time of existence ancient egypt, and there are also hypotheses that crocodiles lived in the time of dinosaurs.

To date, the population of the Nile crocodile in the world has 250-500 thousand individuals and is included in the "Red List of Threatened Species" as a taxon of minimal risk (LC). In the 1940s - 1960s, the extermination of the Nile crocodiles for the sake of extracting their skin led to a sharp decrease in the population, and only thanks to the national and international measures taken, the extinction of the species was stopped. However, despite all efforts, cases of poaching are not uncommon. In addition, the lack of education and knowledge of proper behavior among the natives of the habitats of the species leads to the extermination of individuals that threaten the lives of careless people and domestic animals.

The Nile crocodile is one of the largest reptiles, which reaches a length of 5-6 meters along with the tail. However, depending on the habitat, certain features of the species are distinguished, including in size. The average weight of an adult is 600-800 kg with a length of 4-5 meters. Individuals whose length reaches 6 meters or more weigh about 1000 kg.

The body structure of the Nile crocodile allows the species to be perfectly adapted to hunting in aquatic environment. The reptile's tail is long and powerful, which helps it swim quickly and, starting from the bottom of the reservoir, quickly jump out over distances that are much larger than the size of the reptile itself. The body of the Nile crocodile is flattened, the short hind legs are equipped with wide membranes, the jaws are long and powerful. The skin of the Nile crocodile, unlike most of its relatives, is rather smooth without ridges and covered with scales. There are 4-6 scutes on the back of the head, the dorsal scutes are separated from the occipital and placed in equal rows. The organs of vision, respiration and hearing are located on the top of the crocodile's head, which allows it to dive under water, hiding from prey, and at the same time observe the surroundings. Crocodylus niloticus has 64-68 teeth, 36-38 of which are maxillary, 28-30 are mandibular.

The color of young individuals is greenish with bright black spots on the sides, on the back and a straw-yellow hue on the belly and throat. With age, the color fades and becomes darker from olive to dark green on the sides, on the back, and the belly and throat acquire a dirty yellow tint.

In addition to all of the above, the skin of the Nile crocodile is equipped with highly sensitive receptors that respond to the slightest vibrations of water. The reptile sees perfectly not only during the day, but also at night. But at the same time, the hearing and sense of smell of the Nile crocodile are developed much better than vision.

The three-chambered heart well saturates the blood of the reptile with oxygen, which allows, if necessary, to be under water for up to two hours with reduced activity. Usually, the Nile crocodile draws enough air into the lungs to be on the surface of the water and releases it in order to quickly dive deep into the depths. A crocodile dives for an average of 2-3 minutes. When a crocodile dives underwater, its ears close, as do its nostrils. At the same time, the eyes are closed by a membrane (the so-called third eyelid), which protects them from exposure to water and at the same time allows you to see. In addition, for washing the mucous membrane, there are glands around the eyes of the crocodile, which were the basis of the aphorism "crocodile tears".

The Nile crocodile is able to open its mouth in the water thanks to a leathery outgrowth, which is located at rear wall throat and blocks the access of water to the respiratory system.

The metabolism of Crocodylus niloticus, like that of most cold-blooded animals, is rather slow, which allows it to go without food for tens of days. But at the same time, a hungry crocodile is able to eat up to half its own weight at a time.

The dimorphism of the crocodile is expressed only by the primary sexual characteristics and the size of individuals - males usually exceed females in size. Therefore, determine the sex of a crocodile by outward signs impossible.

AT wild nature The life expectancy of Nile crocodiles can reach 60-70 years.

Origin and habitats in nature

The species Crocodylus niloticus belongs to the genus Crocodylus (Real crocodiles) of the Crocodylidae family (Crocodiles). Informally, several subspecies are recognized, some of which have DNA analysis showing differences, suggesting possible genetic differences among populations. However, to date given fact has not been fully studied, and it is possible to speak only about the existing differences in the size of individuals, which may be due to the habitat.

In countries with a cool climate, the size of an adult is on average 4 m (South African Nile crocodile), while in Mali and the Sahara desert, the size of adults does not reach more than 2-3 m in length, due to which they were called Dwarf Nile crocodiles.

The habitat of the species Crocodylus niloticus extends over almost the entire territory of Africa, in the Nile River basin, south of the Sahara, as well as in Morocco, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde, Zanzibar, Socotra Island and Madagascar. Judging by the fossil remains, this species previously lived much further north - in Algeria, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, the Comoros, and was most recently exterminated in Israel. In addition, a small population of the species also lives in Palestine today, but in a single place - the Crocodile River.

The habitat is limited to freshwater or slightly brackish lakes, rivers, swamps, and estuaries. It can be noted that the Nile crocodile prefers to live in more or less calm water, with a sandy coastal zone. It is extremely rare to find the Nile crocodile at a great distance from the reservoir. And this may be due to the search for a new habitat in connection with the drying up of the reservoir on the previous one.

Lifestyle

The Nile crocodile cannot be called a herd animal, but they live large groups and often hunt in groups. At the same time, a strict hierarchy is observed in each group, which does not lead to conflicts. Groups are always dominated by the largest individuals.
But group hunting does not take place so often, more often individuals lead a solitary lifestyle. At dawn, the Nile crocodile comes out onto the coastal sand and dries in the sun, while its mouth is usually open at this moment. Having warmed up in the sun, the crocodile returns to the reservoir for hunting closer to noon. Since the Nile crocodile can eat quite a lot, it hunts almost every day, but in those cases when it is not hungry, then at lunchtime it can either simply swim along the perimeter of its site, or remain on the coastal zone half asleep. It is impossible to say that a crocodile ever completely immerses itself in sleep, because thanks to the organs of touch, it always feels everything that happens around.

When a group of crocodiles rests on the same beach, the dominant (i.e. larger) individuals are always in the most convenient places, while the distance between each crocodile is quite respectful. At sunset, the Nile crocodile always returns to the pond for hunting, which continues throughout the night and early morning. Thus, individuals of the Nile crocodile lead mainly night image life.

Nile crocodiles hunt most often for fish, but often marsh and water birds, small and large mammals that come to the reservoir where the crocodile lives for a drink often become prey. The Nile crocodile waits for its prey, completely immersed in water and leaving only eyes, nose and ears on the surface. He is able to completely silently and imperceptibly swim up to his prey at a sufficient distance, then in a sharp jump to grab the prey by the throat and also quickly drag it under water.
Under water, a crocodile either strangles its prey or waits for it to choke. There have been cases when crocodiles left their prey under water for a while, placing it between the roots of trees, or in crevices, so that the meat softened.

If the prey managed to avoid the attack of the crocodile, then it will not pursue it on land. Extremely rarely, during feeding, crocodiles climbed more than half the exit from the reservoir. Crocodiles will also not hunt on the shore. Crocodiles can eat already dead prey, but they avoid meat in which the process of decay has already begun.

The crocodile most often suppresses the fish with the blows of the tail, after which it swallows it. When hunting in groups, several crocodiles drive fish into schools, where they have the opportunity to stun large quantity mining. At the same time, larger individuals are the first to swallow prey, and their small relatives can only collect the remains after dominant individuals.

Acoustic communication between individuals consists of a rather extensive set of sound signals. Sounds always accompany mating tournaments. In addition, a characteristic dull lowing can be heard during the anxiety of the individual. An angry crocodile makes sounds like a hissing sniff. Young, newly hatched individuals make sonorous croaking sounds.

In general, the behavior of the Nile crocodile can be characterized as individual and social. It can manifest itself both in groups and singly. It even has some semblance of intelligence, and therefore cunning moves are possible during the hunt, as well as the ability to protect and protect offspring, which is not characteristic of most other reptiles.

The Nile crocodile has the fame of a cannibal, because due to indiscretion, according to information from various sources, in their habitats, several hundred people become victims of crocodiles per year. However, there are no official statistics and it is not possible to confirm or deny this information.

When deciding to keep the Nile crocodile in captivity, a person must understand the full measure of responsibility towards this animal and their loved ones who may be near it. In the presence of a crocodile, a person should never be careless, because first of all the Nile crocodile - dangerous predator, which has tremendous strength, lightning-fast reaction, as well as all the qualities inherent in it by nature, designed for successful hunting. The crocodile will never become tame, and therefore it must be treated with caution, not being deceived by its apparent indifference.

Terrarium: given the considerable size of the species Crocodylus niloticus, it is necessary to prepare a spacious terrarium. Even for a young individual, a fairly large space is needed, because they grow quite quickly, and a small terrarium can last no more than 1-2 years. Therefore, it is better to prepare a terrarium with the expectation of an adult immediately.

For the Nile crocodile, it is recommended to prepare a large pool where he can swim freely. The size of the pool should be at least twice the size of the reptile in length and at least the minimum headroom for a turn. In a ratio of 1:1 with a pond in the aquaterrarium, there should be an island of land, over which a warming point should be organized.

The water level in the pool must be at least half a meter. The water in the terrarium must be fresh and free of harmful impurities, such as chlorine. In addition, it is desirable to make the reservoir flowing and install a sufficient number of filters. Water should always be clean, it is recommended to resort to partial replacement 1-2 times a week. Complete replacement water in the pool must be produced at least once a month.

Substrate: the most optimal type of substrate on land will be coarse gravel with sand, which, if necessary, can be washed and dried. It is necessary to place several large and medium stones and snags in the water. Landing should be comfortable and gentle.

Content temperature: The Nile crocodile is a heat-loving tropical animal, and therefore the temperature of keeping should be at least + 34 ° C during the day and not lower than + 24 ° C at night. The water temperature should be maintained at +28 - +30°C. A warm-up point must be organized in one corner of the terrarium so that the crocodile can control its own body temperature.

Lighting: During the day, the terrarium should be well lit. Besides, required condition successful assimilation of minerals important for the body of a crocodile - the presence of a lamp ultraviolet radiation. It is necessary to monitor the daily rhythm and arrange lighting in such a way that twice a day there is a period of twilight.

Registration: to create partial shade in the terrarium, you can plant unpretentious tropical plants- they will also decorate the space, but for crocodiles, the presence of vegetation is not at all a prerequisite.

Feeding in captivity

Nile crocodiles in captivity should be fed as closely as possible to their diet in natural environment. So the menu of the youngsters can be large insects, frogs, newborn mice. Adults can be fed rats, live fish, unplucked chicken. It has been noted that after fish, crocodiles easily switch to eating meat, but if they are fed only meat for a rather long period, then they may refuse fish. But this phenomenon is temporary and, having been a little capricious, the pet will also eat fish.
Pre-killed prey, cuts of meat, or thawed fish are suitable for feeding captive-bred individuals who are trained to consume such food. But even in this case, the volume of live prey should prevail.

Adult feeding intervals can be 4-6 days, while juveniles need to be fed every other day. The amount of food to eat adult per week should be 5% of body weight, and for young animals - 10%.

Vitamin supplements in the form of calcium and other important elements that make up vitamin complexes for reptiles should be given once a week to young animals and once a month to adults.

Breeding

At good conditions content, individuals of the Nile crocodile become sexually mature by about 8-10 years, when their body size reaches 3 m for males and 2-2.5 m for females.

The mating season begins with male tournaments, which are observed by the female and give preference to the largest male. Roars, snorting, slamming their heads on the water - this is not a complete list of ways in which males try to attract the attention of a female during the mating season. During mating games, the resulting pairs rub the undersides of the muzzle and make various sounds.
The beginning of the mating season falls on the dry season. Mating takes place in the water and lasts 1-2 minutes. Approximately 60 days after mating, the female begins to dig a hole, about 50 cm deep on land, in the sand. Often in the wild, several females dig holes close to each other and jointly guard the masonry.

One clutch consists of 40-60 eggs. After laying eggs, the female fills the nest with rotting vegetation, which, during decay, creates additional heat, which contributes to better incubation of eggs, and also masks nests from predators. Despite the fact that females, and sometimes males, very jealously guard the masonry, they are often devastated by other predators. But most common cause masonry deaths are early rains that flood nests located close to water bodies.

The incubation period is on average 80-90 days. The sex of the pups is determined by the incubation temperature. Young animals have a small growth (egg tooth) in the nose area, thanks to which they can peck the egg. Pecking the egg, small crocodiles begin to make ringing sounds, which are a signal for the female, after which she opens the nest and often, together with the male, helps the young to get out of the egg, widening the crack in it with their tongue, and then they carry them to the water.

Pairs protect cubs up to 2 years, after which they drive them from their site. Then the young wander along the reservoirs one by one, trying not to catch the eye of adults who can feast on the young. Having reached puberty, young crocodiles return to their native shore.

When breeding Nile crocodiles in captivity, it is necessary to place a sufficient amount of vegetation in the terrarium, prepare a place with a substrate in the form of a mixture of moss, peat and shavings. The substrate must be sufficiently hygroscopic, since the embryos receive moisture not only from the air, but also from the soil.

In order for sexually mature individuals to pay attention to each other, it is recommended to keep the female separately until the mating season. If you plant a female with two sexually mature males, then skirmishes will begin, during which the animals can severely injure each other.
The incubation temperature should be +30 - +32°C. Under the substrate in which the eggs are located, there should be water in order to create the conditions as close as possible to incubation in the wild.