About the Species
The Nile Crocodile, the largest crocodilian on the African continent, is an apex predator not to be underestimated. They are incredibly adaptable and, thus, can thrive in numerous environments, from the North Nile valley of Egpyt to the South in the sub-Saharan rivers of Angola. They are infamous for their life-crushing, forceful bite, aggressive surprise attacks, and predatory attendance in the annual wildebeest migration. What's more, Nile crocs deliberately prey on humans and are christened as one of the most dangerous and vicious reptiles to roam the planet.
Biology
Physical Traits
- The Nile crocodile is physiologically built for agility to execute its brutal ambushes with ease. With adaptations such as their chart-topping jaw strength and 66 conic and razor-sharp teeth, their bite alone is enough to ensure a triumphant strike.
- Equivalent to other crocodilian species, their most unmistakable physical structures include their short, widened legs, muscle-dense tails, extended jaws, and roughly scaled hide.
Reproduction and Lifespan
- In line with other reptilians, Nile crocs reproduce by laying eggs. Once females mate, they incubate for two months and lay around 60 eggs, guarding them until they hatch about 90 days later. As one would expect, coming in between a female and her eggs or newly hatched young is a fatal quest.
- Rather than the process being strictly chromosomal (like humans), crocodile sex is determined by the temperature of their surroundings. They have a 'sweet spot' temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, where populations are balanced. If any lower, most eggs will hatch female. If temperatures are higher, most eggs will hatch as males.
- Nile crocodiles mature around 10-15 years old and live an average lifespan of about 50-70 years. However, the oldest documented Nile crocodile broke the record with an 80-year lifespan.
