Week Eight: Nile Crocodile

Common Name: Nile Crocodile

Scientific Name: Crocodylus niloticus

Fun Fact: From birth, Nile crocodiles are voracious carnivores who will kill and devour any living prey in their vicinity by biting and/or drowning the unfortunate creature.

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Crocodylia

Family: Crocodylidae

Genus: Crocodylus

Species: C. niloticus

Description: The Nile crocodile is the largest reptile in Africa, at twenty feet in length and weighing more than 1,980 pounds. Its head tapers to a triangular snout, and its scales are for the most part olive green, with a yellowish underbelly and mouth.

Environment: This species of crocodile can be found in almost any amicable habitat in Africa, from the Nile River to Madagascar. It requires a ready body of freshwater and is therefore vulnerable to drought. It may briefly survive in saltwater estuaries, such as the Nile delta, but prefers rivers, lakes, waterholes, and reservoirs.

Reproduction & Development: During the dry season, Nile crocodiles breed and the females lay anywhere from 25 to 100 eggs. The female guards and cares for these eggs until they hatch, at which point she will assist in their escape from their eggs and lead them to the water. The female crocodile is a caring mother, who guards her offspring carefully from predators of all species, including her own. These offspring will become sexually mature at 7 to 15 years of age and live for up to 100 years.

Nutrition: Nile crocodiles are carnivores and eat nearly any animal prey available, including large game and juveniles of its own species.