There is said to be thirteen … As it matures, Nile crocodiles become darker and the cross-bands fade, especially those on the upper-body. [3][7], Hatchling Nile crocodiles are between 280 and 300 mm (11 and 12 in) long at first and weigh around 70 g (2.5 oz). [88] Extremely large fish, such as Nile perch (Lates niloticus), goliath tigerfish (Hydrocynus goliath), and even sharks, are taken on occasion, in addition to big catfish, such as Bagrus spp. Smaller specimens can gallop, and even larger individuals are capable on occasion of surprising bursts of speed, briefly reaching up to 14 km/h (8.7 mph). [27] They also feed on dead hippopotamuses (Hippopotamus amphibius) as a group (sometimes including three or four dozen crocodiles), tolerating each other. Retrieved on 2013-04-25. ", "The nesting and some other habits of Alopochen, Nettapus, Plectropterus and Sarkidiornis", "Feeding behavior and ecology of the Goliath Heron", "Molt patterns of nonbreeding white-faced whistling-ducks in South Africa", "Simon Thomsett on the African Crowned Eagle", "Population Status, Foraging and Diurnal Activity Patterns of Oribi (, 10.1644/1545-1410(2001)671<0001:ac>2.0.co;2, "Factors affecting reproduction and mortality among baboons in the Okavango Delta, Botswana", "Natural mortality amoung [sic] four common ungulate species on Letaba Ranch, Limpopo Province, South Africa", The feed and feeding Habits of Tiang (Damaliscus korrigrum) in the Sudd Region–Sudan, Equids: zebras, asses, and horses: status survey and conservation action plan, The population ecology of the Nile Crocodile (, "Adaptations to underground nesting in birds and reptiles", "Effects of Incubation Temperature on Crocodiles and the Evolution of Reptilian Oviparity", 10.1002/1097-0010(200002)80:3<390::AID-JSFA540>3.0.CO;2-G, "Conservation status of crocodiles in Ghana and Côte-d'Ivoire, West Africa", Habitat vulnerability for the Nile crocodile (, "The decline of the Nile crocodile population in Loskop dam, Olifants River, South Africa", "Crocodile attack in Australia: an analysis of its incidence and review of the pathology and management of crocodilian attacks in general", 10.1580/1080-6032(2005)16[143:CAIAAA]2.0.CO;2, "Human-felid conflict: a review of patterns and priorities worldwide", "Snakebite mortality in India: a nationally representative mortality survey", "Crocodile bites and traditional beliefs in Korogwe District, Tanzania", "Human–wildlife conflict in Mozambique: a national perspective, with emphasis on wildlife attacks on humans", Multimedia information from National Geographic Kids site, Central African slender-snouted crocodile (, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nile_crocodile&oldid=983251393, Articles that may be too long from January 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 October 2020, at 04:44. (2008). While, like all crocodilians, the Nile crocodile digs out a hole for a nest site, unlike most other modern crocodilians, female Nile crocodiles bury their eggs in sand or soil rather than incubate them in rotting vegetation. [19] The distributional boundaries between these species were poorly understood, but following several studies, they are now better known. [7] Crocodile teeth are not used for tearing up flesh, but to sink deep into it and hold on to the prey item. They can grow to be about 6 metres long and can weigh over 700 kg. The saltwater crocodile is the only other crocodilian that can give it some competition. [14] While not as extensively aquatic as the genus Kobus, the reedbucks and the impala (Aepyceros melampus) have both shown a partiality for grasslands adjoining wetlands and riparian zones, so are also very commonly recorded prey items. Nile Crocodile Facts. In addition, as an animal that feeds rarely, sometimes only a few times in a year, even the individual stomach content examinations sometimes prove to be unsuccessful.
Nile crocodiles reach the maturity at 12 – 16 years age. However, when size differences are prominent, the predators may prey on each other. Many other genera are taken widely and relatively regularly, including Tilapia (which was the most significant prey genus in Lake Turkana), Clarias, Haplochromis, and Mormyrus. This size range consists of subadult males and a mixture of subadult and adult females. [3][81] Even the largest frog in the world, the goliath frog (Conraua goliath), has reportedly been preyed on by young Nile crocodiles. These have consisted of: C. n. africanus (informally named the East African Nile crocodile), C. n. chamses (or the West African Nile crocodile), C. n. cowiei (the South African Nile crocodile), C. n. madagascariensis (Malagasy or Madagascar Nile crocodile, regionally also known as the Croco Mada, which translates to Malagasy crocodile), C. n. niloticus (would be the nominate subspecies, or the Ethiopian Nile crocodile), C. n. pauciscutatus (Kenyan Nile crocodile), C. (n.) suchus (now widely perceived by crocodilian biologists as a separate species). They have the ability to bite with a force of 22 kN (5,000 lbf). While the natural population in these areas may be lower due to a less-than-ideal environment and competition with sympatric slender-snouted and dwarf crocodiles, extirpation may be a serious threat in some of these areas.
(2002). [7] Typical size has been reported to be as much as 4.5 to 5.5 m (14 ft 9 in to 18 ft 1 in), but this is excessive for actual average size per most studies and represents the upper limit of sizes attained by the largest animals in a majority of populations. [7][96] In some cases in Kruger National Park, antelope have been driven into water while being pursued by packs of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), which hunt by endurance, engaging prey in a grueling chase until it is exhausted (a very successful hunting style), only to be killed by opportunistic crocodiles. [82][83], After Nile crocodiles reach 2 m (6 ft 7 in), the significance of most invertebrates in the diet decreases precipitously. 5 Fascinating Facts About the Nile Crocodile, Botswana [100][101][102][103][104] On the contrary, several records exist of them capturing wading birds. They use their massive jaws to transport newly hatched young to a ‘nursery pool’ where they guard them from predators. [6][15][184][185] While these species are much more aggressive toward people than other living crocodilians (as is statistically supported by estimated numbers of crocodile attacks), Nile crocodiles are not particularly more likely to behave aggressively to humans or regard humans as potential prey than saltwater crocodiles. However, as crocodiles grow, relying solely on small and agile food items such as fish becomes difficult, this causes a shift in the diet as the animal matures, for energy conservation purposes, as in other predators. By continuing you agree to our use of cookies. Guggisberg (1972) saw multiple cases of predation on marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumenifer) and around Lake Turkana several may frequent heronries to pick off fledglings. They do so by leaving their jaws open while staying motionless. But the ancient Egyptians worshipped the animal as their deity as they both feared and revered them. Storrs G. W. (2003). [7][97][98] While adults have a sufficient bite force to crush turtle shells, younger crocodiles sometimes are overly ambitious, and will choke to death attempting to swallow whole large river turtles.
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