CROCODILES (Crocodylia)

Crocodiles originated about 135 to 65 million years ago.

The order Crocodylia get 1 family : Crocodylia and 21 species distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

The Nile Crocodile:

The Nile crocodile is the only species found in South Africa:

• weight until 1000 kg
• lenght until 6 meters
• 5 toes on front feet and 4 toes on back feet, partially webbed
• tail is 40% of the total body lenght

When it catches its prey under water, it can open its mouth without drowning. It is because the valves in nostrils close and the throat valve closes. That is mean the crocodile cannot swallow its pts prey under water, it has to come to the surface for the throat flap to open.

If they are inactive, they can stay underwater for up to 1 hour. The eyes are protected by well developed lids and behind them lay the ears, 2 slits which flap closed when underwater.

The upper jaw is an extension of the skull. Only the bottom jaw can be moved.

The teeth are designed for gripping. If the prey is too large to be swallowed whole, it flicks it back and forth with sideways movements, of the head or seizing a mouthful spins on it long axis until a piece small enough to be swallowed is torn off.

DIET: 

• varies according to the age and the size
• hatchlings prey on insects, frogs, small crabs, snails
• more than 1 meter in lenght, they eat fish (catfish)
• more than 3 meters in lenght, they eat ish, birds (cormorants), terrapins, snakes, other crocodiles, otters, warthogs, antelopes
• they are opportunistic feeders (live prey or carrion)

BREEDING BEHAVIOUR:

• sexual maturity: 12 to 15 years (2 to 3 meters).
• start breeding season (May) males develop a dominance hierarchy and the courtship is elaborate.
• the non physical contact during this period stimulate the eggs development.
• Mating in water (July & August).
• Females select suitable sunny sand bank close to water. Unless disturbed, they use the same all the life.
• October, November: they dig a hole (30/40 cm) and lay 16 to 80 eggs.
• the main predators of eggs are the water monitor and other crocodiles
• during this period, the female does not eat but just drinks. The male remains in vinicity.
• 84 to 90 days later, hatchling give a cheeping noise. The female opens the nest and takes all of them in her mouth. Hatchlings (28/32 cm) are taken to the water, washed and released. They remain together for 6 to 8 weeks.
• the sex of hatchling is dependent on egg incubation temperature: females (26/30°C) and males (31/34°C).
• the ennemies of the baby crocodiles are the monitor lizards, eagles, herons, marabou storks, ground hornbills, genets, water mongooses, otters, hyenas, baboons, warthogs, bushpigs.
• 1 to 50 eggs will reach the maturity.

Have a look on: Crocodiles Farm, Warmbath, LIMPOPO