Family: Crocodylidae
Despite its reputation as a man-eater, the Nile crocodile was immortalized as a god, Sobek, by the people of ancient Egypt. The center for Sobek worship, the city of Arsinoe, was dubbed "Crocodilopolis" by the ancient Greeks. Sobek was sometimes depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile, or in the form of an ordinary Nile crocodile, with a long, powerful tail, short splayed legs, and scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes -- bony scales -- running down the length of its back and tail. The eyes of the animals -- located on the top of the head with the nostrils and ears -- are protected by a nictitating or third eyelid, and tear-generating lachrymal glands. Nile crocs are known for the high quality leather of their yellowish underbelly; while not seriously endangered, hunting Nile crocodiles for their leather has led to a serious population decline.
Nile crocodiles are social animals. Females are fiercely protective of their eggs, and carry hatchlings from the nest to water. Hatchlings and juveniles, which feed largely on insects, spiders, frogs, lizards, and other small vertebrates, stay with females until about age two. Adult Nile crocodiles, which eat fish, antelope, zebra, domestic animals, and other large vertebrates, may exhibit pack hunting behavior, and sometimes use their bodies to herd groups of fish toward a bank. The social status of the animals within the hunting party influences feeding success; lower-level animals eat less than crocs higher up the dominance hierarchy. Larger males, which attract females by bellowing, slapping their snouts, and blowing water out of their nose, are usually more successful at mating.
Did you know? The Nile crocodile can stay underwater for up to 2 hours if inactive.
