Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
Image credit: © David Schenfeld from Flickr. Some rights reserved.
Taxonomy | Physical Characteristics |
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Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Crocolydia Family: Crocodylidae Genus: Crocodylus Species: Crocodylus niloticus - Nile Crocodile (eastern Africa, Nile valley, southern Africa) Species: Crocodylus suchus - Nile Crocodile (west and central Africa) |
Body Weight: 70-100 kg Body Length: 2.0-3.3 m (6.6-11 ft); maximum length snout to tip of tail: Sexual Dimorphism: Males larger than females. Other features: Salt glands on tongue secrete salt and help animal adapt to salt water environments. |
Distribution & Status | Behavior & Ecology |
Range: Primarily found in Africa, though native to Madagascar. In Africa, widespread distribution south of the Sahara; absent from the southern tip of Africa. Habitat: Freshwater lakes, rivers and brackish coastal swamps. IUCN Status: CITES: Appendix I or Appendix II, depending on populaion. Ranching allowed in some African countries. Population in Wild: Estimated 250,000 to 500,000 individuals, but figures not reliable. |
Activity Cycle: Primarily nocturnal. In daylight, basks in the sun and cools off in the water when necessary. Locomotion: Avoid travel on land if possible. propulsion in water by tail and body undulations; bottom walk in shallow water. Can "high walk" with legs erect under body, dragging the tail. Diet: Varies with age. Hatchlings eat insects; adults can eat large prey such as impala, bushbucks, buffalo, young hippos, and even lions. Interspecies Interactions: Hippos and Nile Crocodiles occupy the same habitats; hippos tend to be more dominant. Common Sandpipers, and several plover species pick ectoparasites from crocodiles. |
Reproduction & Development | Species Highlights |
Courtship: Elaborate rituals in water with males displaying to females; one to five months' interval between mating and nesting. Nesting: Colonial nesting; during dry season, female digs hole in sand near the water. Mother buries and guards eggs. Clutch Size: 55-60 eggs Inter-clutch Interval: 1-2 clutches per year Incubation: 80-90 days Growth: Young grow c. 30 cm/yr (1 ft/yr); growth slows to 2.5 cm/yr (1 in/yr) for old crocodiles Sexual Maturity: 12-19 yrs. in wild Typical Life Expectancy: thought to be long-lived, though typical life expectancy not reported |
Feature Facts
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© 2015-2019 San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Taxonomy, population estimates, IUCN/CITES statuses updated Apr 2019.
How to cite: Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) Fact Sheet. c2014-2019. San Diego (CA): San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance; [accessed YYYY Mmm dd]. http://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/ nile_crocodile.
(note: replace YYYY Mmm dd with date accessed, e.g., 2015 Jan 15)
Disclaimer: Although San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance makes every attempt to provide accurate information, some of the facts provided may become outdated or replaced by new research findings. Questions and comments may be addressed to library@sdzwa.org.