Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about crocodiles?
If so, excellent! You are in exactly the right place my friend…
It’s time to chat about crocodile facts.
Let’s dive right in…
Facts About Crocodiles
1 – Crocodiles are one of the oldest creatures on earth.
2 – They have a long, strong tail and powerful jaws to catch prey.
3 – Crocodiles can be found in Africa, Asia, Australia, North America and South America.
4 – The largest crocodile ever recorded was an 18-footer from Northern Territory in Australia.
5 – There are 23 species of crocodilians – some live in salt water while others live only in fresh water. They all share the same physical features such as scales for protection and webbed feet for swimming.
More Facts About Crocodiles
6 – The largest reptile in the world is the saltwater crocodile that reaches lengths of 23 feet or 6.5 metres. It also weighs 2,200 pounds.
7 – Crocodiles have a lifespan of about 40 years.
8 – A group of crocodiles is called a “branch” or “gaggle.”
9 – Young crocodiles stay with their mothers for up to 10 years before going off on their own.
10 – Females can lay as many as 50 eggs at one time and they hatch after 6 months.
More Facts About Crocodiles
11 – Crocodiles, the largest living reptiles, can be found in Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America and South America.
12 – Baby crocodiles hatch from eggs which they lay on land.
13 – Crocodiles are the only living descendants of a group of reptiles that existed 200 million years ago.
14 – Crocodiles have a third eye on top of their head that they use for sensing light and heat.
15 – The oldest crocodile fossil is from 220 million years ago.
More Facts About Crocodiles
16 – A crocodile’s skin is thick and covered in scales that protect them from predators. They have a long, rounded snout with a wide mouth and small eyes on top of their head.
17 – Crocodiles hunt by waiting patiently until prey comes close enough to attack it.
18 – There are 17 known species of crocodile but only two live in North America – American alligators and American caimans. Crocodiles are opportunistic predators that eat anything they can catch or find, including fish, birds, mammals, and other reptiles.
19 – The skin on their belly is much rougher than the skin on their back so they don’t slip while running or swimming in water.
20 – They have 80 teeth – each one is as sharp as a razor blade.
More Facts About Crocodiles
21 – Crocodiles are excellent swimmers and can run on land for short periods of time at speeds of up to 11 miles per hour.
22 – A group of crocodiles is called a bask, bunch, ambush, herd, or nest.
23 – The only natural predator of crocodiles is humans.
24 – Male crocodile’s jaws can snap shut at speeds up to 60 miles per hour!
25 – The saltwater crocodile is one of the most dangerous animals in existence. The Nile crocodile is a smaller species that lives along riverbanks.
Crocodiles live near rivers and lakes or swamps with freshwater. They can be found in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America.
Baby crocodile hatches from eggs laid by the mother in a nest of vegetation near water
Baby crocodiles grow up quickly – they can reach adult size within two years
Crocodiles have a bad reputation, but they’re actually very intelligent and social animals
The American alligator is the smallest species of crocodile at 4-6 feet long while the saltwater crocodile is the largest at 20 feet long
A female crocodile lays up to 50 eggs per clutch but only 10-20 survive to adulthood because they are eaten by predators or die from being too cold or hot
Crocodiles spend most of their time in water but will sometimes bask on land during hot days so they can cool off (they don’t sweat)
Crocodiles cannot stick out their tongues and instead use them to push food down into their throats when they want to swallow it
Finally crocodiles are cannibals and have been reported to eat other crocodiles!
