Animal Kingdom

Crocodile (subfamily Crocodylinae)

 

crocodiles are large semiiaquatic or amfibi reptiles that live throughout the tropics throughout the world.  Crocodylinae, whose members are considered true crocodiles, are classified as biological subfamilies.

A broader definition of crocodile, which includes Tomistoma.  All crocodiles are semiquatic and tend to gather in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and sometimes in brackish water and salt water.  They are carnivorous animals, eating mostly in vertebrates such as fish, reptiles, birds and mammals, and sometimes in invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans, depending on species and age. 

All crocodiles are tropical species, are very sensitive to cold.  They separated from other crocodiles during the Eocene era, around 55 million years ago.  Many species are threatened with extinction, some are classified as highly endangered.

The word "crocodile" comes from the Ancient Greek κροκόδιλος (crocodilos), "lizard", which is used in the phrase ho krokódilos tou potamoú, "river lizard (Nile)".  There are several variants of the Greek form of the word that are proven, including the later form κροκόδειλος (crocodeilos) 

A total of 15 extant species have been recognized :

• American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
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• Hall's New Guinea Crocodile (Crocodylus Halli)
• Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)
• Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)
• Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii)
• New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae)
• Crocodile mugger (Crocodylus palustris)
• Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
• Borneo crocodile (Crocodylus raninus)
• Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer)
• Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
• West African Crocodile (Crocodylus suchus)
• Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
• West African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
• Central African slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops leptorhynchus)
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Physical characteristics of crocodiles :

Its slim body allows it to swim fast.

He can fold his legs to the side when swimming

Crocodiles have webbed feet

Their tongues are not free, but are held in place by membranes that limit the movement, as a result, the crocodile is unable to stick its tongue out.

Crocodiles have smooth skin on the abdomen and sides, while the back surface is covered with large osteoderms.

Crocodile scales have pores that are believed to have sensory functions

Size

In crocodiles the size varies greatly, some grow to 7 m.

The brain volume of two adult crocodiles is 5.6 cm 3 for glasses and 8.5 cm 3 for the larger Nile crocodile

 

Tooth

Crocodiles are polyphyodonts;  they can replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times in the age of 35 to 75 years.  Next to each adult tooth, there is a small replacement tooth.

Age
the most valuable crocodile. Estuarine crocodiles (C. porosus) can live an average of up to 70 years,
One of the participating crocodiles displayed, died in a Russian zoo at around 115 years old
A male freshwater crocodile maintained at the Australian Zoo is expected to be accepted 130 years.