Crocodile

#fish, #crocodile
🐊 1. Key Characteristics

Long body, thick and rough skin, many species have gray-brown coloring for camouflage in water.

Sharp teeth and extremely powerful bite – among the strongest in the animal kingdom.

Eyes and nostrils are located on top of the head, allowing them to hide underwater while watching prey.

As cold-blooded reptiles, their activity depends heavily on environmental temperature.

🌍 2. Habitat and Distribution

Crocodiles are mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions, such as:

Africa: Nile crocodile

Asia: Siamese crocodile, saltwater crocodile

Americas: American crocodile, Cuban crocodile

China: Chinese alligator (critically endangered)

🍽️ 3. Diet and Hunting Behavior

Carnivorous: they feed on fish, birds, small mammals, and even large prey like buffalo (depending on species).

Hunt by ambushing, striking quickly, and grabbing prey, then spinning their bodies to tear it apart (a move known as the death roll).

🐣 4. Reproduction

Crocodiles lay eggs – typically 20–80 per clutch.

Eggs are incubated in nests made of earth or sand, and the temperature determines the sex of the hatchlings.

Female crocodiles are highly protective of their young – a rare trait among reptiles.

⚠️ 5. Danger and Conservation

Some species are dangerous to humans, like saltwater and Nile crocodiles.

Many species are threatened due to habitat loss, poaching for skin, meat, or traditional medicine.