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Nile Crocodiles are one of the largest species crocodile round and are the largest fresh water predators inside Africa. this big one reptiles are opportunistic predators and have incredible strength. Nile crocodiles live in freshwater habitats throughout Africa and have an average length of 16 feet and an average weight of between 500 and 1500 pounds.
But how big can Nile crocodiles get? We will discover the largest Nile crocodile ever recorded, see how they compare to other crocodiles and find out if ancient crocodiles were even bigger!
Where do Nile crocodiles live and what do they eat?
Nile crocodiles are the second largest reptile in the world after the saltwater crocodile. They are a dark olive or brown color and have prominent spots and stripes down their backs along with yellowish bellies and flanks. Males are larger than females and can be up to 30% larger. They are about 20 inches longer at sexual maturity and continue to grow much more than females after they reach maturity.
Nile crocodiles are native to Africa where they are widespread across the continent. However, they are classified as an invasive species in North America. Nile crocodiles are found in a variety of habitats. They are rarely found in true saltwater environments, but are sometimes found in brackish streams. In general, however, they prefer it swamps, rivers, swamps and lakes.
These large reptiles have between 64 and 68 teeth and have an incredibly powerful bite. They are ambush predators and have the patience to wait days or even weeks for just the right time to strike. Nile crocodiles can go a long time between meals, but when they eat, they can eat up to half their body weight. They are apex predators and eat a range of fish, birds, mammals and others reptiles. Nile crocodiles often prey on waterside drinking animals, such as: antelope. Usually they sink their teeth into it and pull their prey back into the water, where they either drown it or kill it by suddenly hitting their head several times. Nile crocodiles usually take bigger prey as they get bigger because they can’t move fast enough to catch smaller and faster prey.
Behavior of Nile Crocodiles
Nile crocodiles are fairly social animals and often share a basking spot. They spend much of their day in the shallows or basking in the sun with their mouths open. Despite often appearing immobile, appearances can be deceiving and they are always constantly aware of their surroundings and of something or someone else near them.
Nile crocodiles have a strict social hierarchy and at the top are the largest and oldest males. These huge males always get the best spots to bask and have access to food before others do. The hierarchy is largely respected, but if a crocodile dares to break the rules, the results are often violent and bloody.
Although Nile crocodiles usually only dive underwater for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, they can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes if threatened. They are active and skilled swimmers and can handle short bursts even on land.
The largest Nile crocodile ever recorded
The largest Nile crocodile ever officially recorded was a whopping 21 feet and 2 inches long. The male crocodile was killed by the Duke of Mecklenburg in Tanzania in 1905 and weighed between 2,300 and 2,400 pounds.
However, there is a legendary Nile crocodile that could be just as long, if not longer, despite never being captured or measured. Gustave is a legendary crocodile who roams the banks of the Ruzizi River and Lake Tanganyika in Burundi and it is rumored to have killed about 300 people. Although he was never caught, in 2002 he was estimated to be about 20 feet and over 2,000 pounds and probably still growing.
Gustave is distinguished by three bullet scars on his right side. It is believed to hunt humans because its incredible size means it is unable to hunt the faster animals that Nile crocodiles usually eat. He stalks the banks of the river and preys on fishermen, children and anyone who dares to go swimming. In fact, Gustave reportedly killed 17 people in a three-month period.
Gustave became famous for his man-eating tendencies and several films and documentaries were made about him. Numerous attempts were made to capture it, including one with a 32-foot custom-made trap and a live goat – yet Gustave managed to avoid them all and turned out to be extraordinarily intelligent too. The last reported sighting of him was in 2015 when he was seen holding a antelope in the water, but no one knows if he is still there. Whether alive or dead, the legend of Gustave is guaranteed to live on for many years to come.
How do Nile crocodiles compare to other crocodiles?
There are currently seventeen recognized species of crocodiles in the world, and the Nile crocodile is the second largest. Saltwater crocodiles are the largest species, growing to about 23 feet in length. Orinoco crocodiles are slightly smaller than Nile crocodiles. They are generally no more than 16 feet tall and have an average weight of 440 to 840 pounds. Nile crocodiles, however, are much larger than the dwarf crocodile, the smallest crocodile species. Dwarf crocodiles only reach 4.9 feet and up to 175 pounds.
Were ancient crocodiles even bigger?
Ancient crocodiles today were significantly larger than crocodiles. Sarcosuchus is an extinct crocodile that lived during the Early Cretaceous in the area that is now South America and Africa. Sarcosuchus grew to an impressive 31 feet and weighed about 9,400 pounds.
deinosuchus is another large, ancient relative of crocodiles and lived during the late Cretaceous Period. deinosuchus literally translated to “terrible crocodile” and these fearsome beasts wer
e 35 feet long. It is believed that they were able to kill large dinosaurs and feed on a range of fish, sea turtles, and other aquatic prey.
How Do Nile Crocodiles Reproduce?
Nile crocodiles are sexually mature when they are about 14 years old, or 10ft 10ins for males. Males attract females during the mating season by making a lot of noise. They do this by blowing water out of their nose and hitting the water with their snout. During this period, males are extremely territorial and often fight – sometimes to the death – with other males. After mating, females wait between one and two months before laying their eggs.
Females make nests about 20 centimeters deep on sandy shores, dry riverbeds and riverbanks. They lay on average between 25 and 80 eggs. Most other crocodiles cover their eggs with decaying leaves and vegetation, as it is a good source of heat. Instead of using leaves, Nile crocodiles cover their nests with sand or soil. This means they have to rely on the sun’s heat to warm the soil enough to provide enough heat for the eggs to hatch. The temperature of the nest determines whether the young are male or female. Temperatures between 31.7°C and 34.5°C produce males, while anything beyond that produces females.
Females guard the nests for three months, often only to cool off in the water. When the eggs hatch, they dig up the nest and help the young crocodiles out of the eggs. Females do this by picking up the eggs and rolling them in their mouths to crack the shells. Sometimes they even carry the newly hatched crocodiles in their mouths to the water. Newly hatched Nile crocodiles are only about 12 inches (30 cm) long when they are born. They remain under the protection of their mother for two years, by which time they are almost four feet in length.
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