Nile Crocodile
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Sub
phylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family:
Crcodylidae
Subfamily: Crcodylinae
Genus: Crocodylus
Species:
Crocodylus mibticus
Common name: Nile crocodile
The Nile
crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa, and one of the largest in the
world. Up to 6.10 meters and over 680.39 kilograms, it is a deadly predator of
both animals and people. A living relic of prehistoric times, the crocodile is
the only surviving member of the reptile family to which the dinosaur belonged.
As such, it provides a fascinating opportunity for study, and may provide new
information about the habits of extinct animals.
Key Facts:
Sizes:
Length: Up to 6.10 m. (from head to tip of tail)
Weight: Up to 748.43
kg.
Breeding:
Sexual maturity: 6-7 years
Breeding season: Often July
No. of eggs: 30-70
Incubation: 3 months
Lifestyle:
Habit: Solitary, or in small groups of similar sized animals to avoid
being preyed on by larger crocodiles
Diet: Mammals, reptiles (including
other crocodiles), birds, fish, and carrion
Habitat:
Within its range,
the Nile crocodile lives alongside rivers, lakes, and water holes. During the
wet season, when the waterways flood, the crocodiles migrate long distances,
returning to their old territories when the water level falls. The Nile
crocodile swims rapidly, propelled by its long, muscular, flattened tail.
Crocodiles are cold blooded and must avoid extremes of temperature. They bask on
the bank at cooler times of the day and then move into the shade or water to
escape the heat of the midday sun.
Lifespan: Estimated 70-100
years
Distribution:
The Nile crocodile is found throughout most of
Africa, from Egypt in the north to South
Africa.
Conservation:
The Nile crocodile is still
quite numerous throughout most of its range, but most of the other crocodile's
species are severely threatened due to over hunting for their skins and
meat.
Did You Know:
The sex of crocodiles is determined by their
incubation temperature. Eggs incubated at temperatures below 85 degrees hatch
into females, while those incubated above 95 degrees become males.
The
largest of all crocodiles reaches 7.62 meters, while the smallest rarely exceeds
1.52 meters.
Crocodiles are the closest living relatives to birds.
In
Africa, the Nile crocodile accounts for more human deaths each year than any
other meat eating animal.
Crocodiles have teeth in their lower jaw that fit
into notches on either side of the upper jaw; in alligators, all the teeth in
the upper jaw overlap those in the lower jaw.
موضوع: Nile Crocodile 
12/11/2011, 02:30