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.

Breeding: During the spring, the female digs out a nest in the riverbank where she will lay her eggs. The location of the nest is important; it must be close enough to the river so that the female can keep watch, but not so near that it floods. Crocodiles mate in shallow water, sometimes after thrashing wildly about. The thirty to seventy white, hard shelled eggs are covered with sand and guarded by the mother until the young inside begin making chirping noises. The mother then digs the young out, cracking open the eggs if necessary, and carries them to the water. The female remains close to her young for many weeks until they disperse along the river. Only a small part of her brood will reach adulthood. Most fall prey to predators.

Food and Hunting: The Nile crocodile preys on animals that come to the water to drink. It hunts wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, wild dog, and lion. The crocodile uses its strong jaws and teeth to seize the animal and drag it under the water until it drowns. The crocodile cannot chew, so prey is not eaten immediately, but it is wedged underwater beneath a tree trunk until it rots. It eats all its prey, including bones, hooves, and antlers. Strong juices in its stomach, and pebbles which it deliberately swallows, help it to digest its food.

Key Facts:
Sizes:
Length: Up to 20 ft. (from head to tip of tail)
Weight: Up to 1,650 lb.

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
Lifespan: Estimated 70-100 years

Related Species: There are 22 species of crocodile found throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Australia, and North America.
Distribution: The Nile crocodile is found throughout most of Africa, from Egypt in the north to South Africa. It is absent from the cooler parts of North Africa and the dry Sahara desert.
Conservation: The Nile crocodile is still quite numerous throughout most of its range, but most of the other crocodiles species are severely threatened due to overhunting for their skins and meat.

Underwater Life of the Nile Crocodile:The Nile crocodile’s eyes, nostrils, and ears all lie along the top of its head so that it can see, hear, smell, and breathe when submerged. Its stomach is full of stones, which stabilize its body underwater. The eye has a third eyelid which gives protection when diving. The long snout is armed with sharp, cone shaped teeth. Special muscles enable the nostrils to close when diving.

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 25 feet, while the smallest rarely exceeds 5 feet.
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.

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