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6 meter crocodile. Crocodile length: the maximum size of a predator known to science

Mom and son are walking along the sidewalk! And in front of the open sewer hatch. A son:
- Mom, look, the crocodile is flying!
- Where?
And passed by. Suddenly, a minute later, a man catches up, all in the city. no, and says:
- Hey, mother, tell your bastard that crocodiles don't fly!!!
Joke

It just seems that crocodiles are all the same: large,. In fact, among these mammals there is also a hierarchy, and it concerns their size. So, Top 10 largest crocodiles.
1

This crocodile is considered the largest among the rather small representatives of the toothy and tailed. The length of such "monsters" ranges from 6 to 7 meters, but sometimes reaches almost ten. The largest combed crocodile was caught in India 100 years ago.

This cutie is slightly inferior in size to the combed crocodile. He likes to huddle along the banks and, hiding his five-meter body in a swamp. It is mortally dangerous for a person, which is proved by the following fact: in Uganda, villagers caught one such “crumb”, which took 83 human lives with it into the swamp.

These crocodiles are also far from "kids" - their length reaches 5-6 meters. Despite the fact that the diet of the beast is represented by fish and small animals, livestock can also easily go for dinner to the Orinoco crocodile. The colossus attacks people only in case of a threat to offspring or its own life.

This animal lives on the Hindustan Peninsula. And although its length reaches 4-5 meters, the crocodile practically does not attack people. Only if they start making fun of his pointed face. It is afraid of a tiger or its relative, a combed crocodile, because, despite its impressive size, it can easily become their prey.

Such a cutie is united with the black "Cayenne" only by their considerable length: caimans in nature grow up to 4.7 meters. But if you feed the South American crocodile well and scratch it behind the ear, then it can stretch out to all 6 meters.

Another toothy evergreen beast, the length of which varies from 4 to 4.5 meters (if we talk about males). The females of the Mississippi alligator are slightly smaller - only 3 meters. However, once on the island of Marsh, which is located in Louisiana, a crocodile almost six meters long was caught. Harvest, apparently, was the year.

Although the name of this crocodile sounds pretty cute - "gavial", there is little charm and charm in it. Even a narrow and long muzzle is not able to smooth out the horror induced by its size, and this is as much as 5 green pimply meters.

Another crocodile that has chosen the Indian subcontinent as a place of residence. He has from 66 to 68 teeth, the impressions of seeing which are complemented by a wide muzzle and an impressive size: 4-5 meters. When he smiles or yawns, everyone faints or runs away.

The habitat of this mammal is the country South-East Asia. Compared to the above crocodiles, this guy is just a baby, because adult crocodiles of this species do not grow more than 3 meters. Maximum 4, if he is not nervous and well fed.

Closes our list of the largest crocodiles "kids" from New Guinea. Their growth is quite small - only 3.5 meters, and then, if we talk about males. However, even such "small" dimensions make him both great and terrible, and quite dangerous for those who dare to doubt his zealous character.

We, who live in relatively cool countries, cannot understand the irrational sacred horror that crocodiles evoked among the same ancient Egyptians. They were worshiped and hated, revered as messengers of the gods and destroyed as best they could, mummified and eaten. But people never treated them indifferently.

This is just not surprising: it is difficult to ignore 4-5 meters of muscles armed with sharp teeth. Surprisingly, something else is more likely - these creatures have inhabited the Earth for more than 250 million years, having not changed significantly during this time. This can only mean one thing: the crocodile is an ideal creation of nature, which simply does not need to be further improved.

But all the same, a legitimate and quite logical question arises: where does the most big crocodile? What species does it belong to? And most importantly, how big is it? We'll try to answer.

Combed or Nile?

To begin with, it would be nice to figure out which species gave the world a champion: combed crocodile or Nile? It is not so easy to answer this question. Both species are impressive, but almost the same size: up to 5-5.5 meters males, females are shorter and lighter. Individual individuals can grow up to 6-7 meters, but this is rather an exception, champions and winners. It’s a little easier with weight: the combed one seems to be more massive, although again not much: average weight 500-600, peak - 1000 and more. But the Nile is almost the same.

But their habitats are completely different. The Nile crocodile, as it should be, occupied the banks of the Nile and its environs, populating Africa. The combed one settled on the shores of Australia and Asia, simultaneously occupying all the islands located between it. And all thanks to the fact that he tolerates well salt water and can swim impressive distances. Individual crocodiles were found even in Japan, to the great surprise of the local population.

With quantity, too, everything is not as simple as we would like. The Nile is not yet listed in the Red Book, but some populations have already been destroyed. The combed one feels good in Australia under the strict supervision of the guards wildlife, but on many islands, for example, the Seychelles, to the delight of tourists, it is completely exterminated.

Therefore, although officially the palm in the team standings belongs to the rower, the decision can be challenged. But in the individual competition, such problems should not arise.

Cassius Clay

This is not only the real name of Mohamed Ali, but also the most long crocodile living today. This favorite of tourists recently celebrated its 110th anniversary, but is not going to leave us yet. On his birthday, he cheerfully destroyed a festive 20-kilogram cake from raw meat.

And this is quite logical, because you need to feed your 5.5 meters and a ton of weight well. It is said that it used to be even longer, until it lost a piece of its tail in a fight. But even the remaining carcass was enough to get into the Guinness Book of Records and even take a whole spread there instead of the usual one page.

The birthday boy did not share

He has lived in captivity since 1984, when he was captured and transferred to a crocodile park in Australia. Here he found a quiet life, satisfying Tasty food and worldwide fame. What more could a crocodile want in his old age?

But Cassius Clay once almost lost his laurels. In the Philippines, an even larger specimen was caught and delivered to the local zoo - 6 meters 17 centimeters from the tip of the tail to the front teeth.

Caught all over the world

Lolong is a bad boy, he is suspected of being addicted to human flesh and the deaths of several people. Therefore, the inhabitants of the town of Bunavan together caught a predator. Someone far-sighted advised not to kill him, but to hand him over to the local zoo to make a curiosity out of him that would attract tourists. The cunning plan worked, and every day hundreds of people came to see this monster with their own eyes - a solid increase in the local budget.

Unfortunately, life in captivity was not to his liking. In protest (or stupidity), he ate a nylon cord and floated up belly-up a few days later. The veterinarian witnessed the death, and the title returned to Clay.

Uncrowned Champions

But the confrontation of these heavyweights is not the limit. And most likely the most big crocodiles still swim somewhere in the Nile or the waters of Australia. Perhaps someday you will be able to at least see them.

How, for example, nile crocodile Gustav, who has not yet been caught by any expedition. Although many tried, as evidenced by his special examples - several scars from bullets on the skin. But he paid for them. It is believed that on his conscience more than 300 human deaths.

V last time they managed to put him in a cage, but the enraged Gusta broke it and disappeared into the waters of the Nile. The expedition resulted in a film from National Geographic and exact length his body is 6 meters 10 centimeters. On the this moment is an absolute record. Although it has not yet been possible to give the award to the winner. But about him filmed the film "Primal Evil".

True Primal Evil

It's good that their older relatives - intermediate options between dinosaurs and crocodiles have already died out. Compared to them, Gustav, and Lolong, and Cassius would be dwarfs, half-sized, cute and harmless lizards. See for yourself:

Sarcosuchus. Length - up to 12 meters. Weight - up to 8 tons. Lived in modern Africa 110 million years ago.
Deinosuchus. Length - up to 15 meters. Weight - 8-10 tons. Lived 80-73 million years ago.
Pursusaurus. Length - up to 15 meters. Weight - up to 7 tons. Extinct about 8 million years ago.

Of course, any scientist would like to see and describe such crocodiles. But the consequences of such a meeting might not please him at all.

But still, a legitimate and quite logical question arises: where does the largest crocodile live? What species does it belong to? And most importantly, how big is it? We'll try to answer.

Combed or Nile?

To begin with, it would be nice to figure out which species gave the world a champion: combed crocodile or Nile? It is not so easy to answer this question. Both species are impressive, but almost the same size: up to 5-5.5 meters males, females are shorter and lighter. Individual individuals can grow up to 6-7 meters, but this is rather an exception, champions and winners. It’s a little easier with weight: the combed one seems to be more massive, although again not much: the average weight is 500-600, the peak weight is 1000 and more. But the Nile is almost the same.

But their habitats are completely different. The Nile crocodile, as it should be, occupied the banks of the Nile and its environs, populating Africa. The combed one settled on the shores of Australia and Asia, simultaneously occupying all the islands located between it. And all thanks to the fact that he tolerates salt water well and can swim impressive distances. Individual crocodiles were found even in Japan, to the great surprise of the local population.

With quantity, too, everything is not as simple as we would like. The Nile is not yet listed in the Red Book, but some populations have already been destroyed. The combed one feels good in Australia under the strict supervision of wildlife guards, but on many islands, for example, the Seychelles, to the delight of tourists, it is completely exterminated.

Therefore, although officially the palm in the team standings belongs to the rower, the decision can be challenged. But in the individual competition, such problems should not arise.

Cassius Clay

This is not only the real name of Mohamed Ali, but also the longest living crocodile today. This favorite of tourists recently celebrated its 110th anniversary, but is not going to leave us yet. On his birthday, he cheerfully destroyed a festive 20-kilogram raw meat cake.

The birthday boy did not share

He has lived in captivity since 1984, when he was captured and transferred to a crocodile park in Australia. Here he found a quiet life, hearty delicious food and worldwide fame. What more could a crocodile want in his old age?

Caught all over the world

Lolong is a bad boy, he is suspected of being addicted to human meat and killing several people. Therefore, the inhabitants of the town of Bunavan together caught a predator. Someone far-sighted advised not to kill him, but to hand him over to the local zoo to make a curiosity out of him that would attract tourists. The cunning plan worked, and every day hundreds of people came to see this monster with their own eyes - a solid increase in the local budget.

Uncrowned Champions

But the confrontation of these heavyweights is not the limit. And, most likely, the largest crocodiles still swim somewhere in the Nile or the waters of Australia. Perhaps someday you will be able to at least see them.

Like, for example, the Nile crocodile Gustav, who has not yet been caught by any expedition. Although many tried, as evidenced by his special examples - several scars from bullets on the skin. But he paid for them. It is believed that more than 300 human deaths are on his conscience.

The last time they managed to put him in a cage, but the enraged Gusta broke it and disappeared into the waters of the Nile. The result of the expedition was a film from National Geographic and the exact length of his body is 6 meters 10 centimeters. At the moment, this is an absolute record. Although it has not yet been possible to give the award to the winner. But about him filmed the film "Primal Evil".

True Primal Evil

Sarcosuchus. Length - up to 12 meters. Weight - up to 8 tons. Lived in modern Africa 110 million years ago.
Deinosuchus. Length - up to 15 meters. Weight - 8-10 tons. Lived 80-73 million years ago.
Pursusaurus. Length - up to 15 meters. Weight - up to 7 tons. Extinct about 8 million years ago.

Of course, any scientist would like to see and describe such crocodiles. But the consequences of such a meeting might not please him at all.

The crocodile is perhaps one of the scariest animals that scare children. His aggression is inexplicable for an unenlightened layman, although it is dictated only by instinct. On the inexplicable desire of an adult crocodile to drag the victim faster to the bottom, many plots of works of art are built. Therefore, the answer to a purely practical question is always interesting: “How much does a crocodile weigh so that it can deal with the victim so easily?”.

Size and weight

How much a crocodile weighs, what its dimensions will become, depends on the type and gender of the reptiles. Sea (aka ridged) can grow more than seven meters and, accordingly, will weigh about a ton. Dwarf he is West African) grow up to a maximum of 1.9 meters, and he will gain weight up to 32 kg (maximum - 80 kg). Crocodiles are animals with pronounced sexual dimorphism, males grow much faster and become much larger than females. Moreover, a carcass weighing more than a ton grows from a baby 20 cm in size.

Observing the size of crocodiles and their weight is difficult behavioral features and inaccessibility of reptile habitats.

Only observations of crocodiles in captivity are reliable. The largest crocodile ever seen is a combo-Siamese crocodile hybrid named Yai on a farm in Thailand. Its length is 6 meters, weight - 1114 kg.

The length of the largest crocodile caught alive is 6.17 meters, weight is 1075 kg (Philippines).

How long do crocodiles live

It is difficult to determine with a high probability the age of a crocodile. The usual method adopted is to measure lamellar rings in teeth and bones: once every year, when the climate changes from dry to wet, a new ring appears as a result of a change in growth rate.

Therefore, the age of crocodiles is almost always spoken of with an estimated degree of probability. According to such estimates, almost all species of crocodiles live from thirty to forty years, although it is believed that large ones (combed, Nile, swamp, Central American) can live up to 70 years. Some of the largest specimens of combed crocodiles live over a hundred years.

Crocodile as an animal

The name crocodile is commonly used to identify all reptiles of the crocodile species. But only representatives of the family of true crocodiles can be strictly attributed to Crocodylinae. Based on this, this article will consider the features of the crocodile family (with the exception of gavial and alligator)

There are 24 known species of crocodiles in the world, divided into 3 families and 8 genera.

Most big family- crocodile, includes three genera - real crocodiles, blunt-nosed, gavial.
1 genus - real crocodiles:

African narrow-nosed;

marsh;

combed;

Cuban;

Nile;

New Guinean;

Orinoco;

sharp-snouted;

freshwater;

Siamese;

Philippine;

Central American.

2 genus - blunt crocodiles. Includes only one representative - blunt-nosed crocodile(in Latin -Osteolaemus tetraspis listen)) is a West African dwarf crocodile.

3rd genus - gavial.

It also has only one representative - Tomistoma schlegelii (false gharial).

African narrow-nosed (Mecistops cataphractus)

Considered an endangered species, little studied. Habitat - by throughout the western tropical Africa from Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru in the east/southeast to in the west. Dlength up to 4 meters (although individuals over 3-3.5 meters have not been observed today during observations), weight - presumably up to 230 kg.

It feeds mainly on fish, adults can eat turtles and birds, females lay up to 16 large eggs, they do not guard the clutch, the hatching period is up to 110 days. They live in rivers overgrown with vegetation, according to estimated estimates, now up to 20,000 adults, its number is constantly decreasing. They live in 10 subpopulations. Scientists cannot answer the question of how long Mecistops cataphractus crocodiles live due to insufficient knowledge of the species. . The estimated data of the Red Book is 25 years.

Swamp (Crocodylus palustris)

Listed in the Red Book, habitat - in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and possibly Bangladesh, its range extends west into eastern Iran, the current state is about 87,00 individuals, an increase of nearly 6,000 adult crocodiles since 1989.

It lives in any reservoirs, even artificially created ones, digs holes along the banks, wheresurvives in dry times or extremely cold (up to 5 degrees).It feeds on fish, mammals, birds, turtles. In a fight with a leopard, he often wins. Seen in Lately in an attack on people, which, according to scientists, indicates an increase in numbers.

Considered an average species, the average size of a crocodile is:females - up to 2.45 meters, males - up to 3.5 meters, weight on average from 50 kg for females and up to 250 kg for males. The weight of a mature male can reach up to 400 kg with a length of up to 4.5 meters. The clutch can contain up to 30 eggs, the hatching period is from 50 to 75 days. It moves well on land, can develop a decent speed - up to 12 km per hour.An interesting feature is the creation of a bait for hunting birds. The crocodile lays on the muzzle (and it lies on the water in a horizontal plane) tree branches. Birds preoccupied with scarcity building material for nests, they fly very close to the reptile.

Ridged, or marine

Most great view crocodiles and the most dangerous for humans. The area of settlement is along the inland and surrounding waters of Southeast Asia and Australia. This species is the most common and the most studied.

How long the combed crocodile lives is known most fully, since both hunters and scientists have been studying this species due to its danger. According to observations, the life span of this species is 50-80 years, although according to the studied remains, some specimens lived up to a hundred years.

The size of the combed crocodile is quite impressive. The maximum of those described is 10 meters, although today it is from 5 to 6 meters. Weight up to two tons. On average - up to 700 kg.

It grows throughout its life. In the biosystem of its range - the top of the food chain. Adults feed not only on fish, small and medium-sized mammals, but also on the largest animals, including predators.

According to paleontologists, this species of crocodiles arose more than 12 million years ago. It is considered very ancient.

The features of the combed crocodile include its ability to move far in sea water. Marked individuals swam to distances of up to 500 km from their traditional habitats, using sea currents to conserve strength.

Scientists define its status as the least vulnerable to extinction.

Cuban (Crocodylus rhombifer)

W listed in the Red Book(there are up to 5000 adults, endangered due to extermination and hybridization with narrow-nosed (both in artificial and in vivo offspring reproduce). Lives in Cubabelongs to the size of medium-sized (2.3 meters in length, weighing up to 40 kg), mature males can reach a weight of up to 200 kg with a length of up to 3.5 meters.

One of the most aggressive crocodiles. It moves well on land at speeds up to 17 km per hour. Females lay up to 60 eggs, the incubation period is up to 70 days. They eat fish, mammals, birds. People are rarely attacked in natural conditions, it is believed that this is due to their small number. Behavior in captivity extremely aggressive towards humans.

Nile (Crocodylus niloticus)

This species is considered as aggressive as the combed one. The size of the crocodile is slightly smaller than the combed one. The descriptions indicate a length of up to 6 meters, but today the existing mature individuals, depending on the region of habitat, can be up to a maximum of 3.5 meters. Modern reliable records of how much a crocodile weighs Crocodylus niloticus,there are enough to estimate his weight on average. Observations show that the weight of a modern Nile crocodile can range from 250 to 350 kg.

His cannibal addictions are known to all the inhabitants of the vast territory of Africa south of the Sahara. He prefers the fresh waters of Africa, but the population noticed him in coastal waters. He, like the combed crocodile, the top of the food chain of his ecosystem, eats everything and of various weights, which he can reach, jump, grab. The status of the animal is the least dangerous for extinction.

New Guinean (Crocodylus novaeguineae)

Relatively small of real crocodiles. According to DNA studies, it is recognized as a close relative of the Philippine, but it is separated into a separate species. Habitat - inland water spaces of the island of New Guinea. Until 1996, it was listed in the Red Book with the status of "threat of extinction", then with an assessment of "least concern". Like all crocodiles, it was exterminated in the fifties and sixties of the last century because of the valuable skin. In 1970, after the adoption of a program of measures for protection, the number by 1996 was restored for the natural continuation of the population. Now they are, according to various estimates, up to 50 thousand.

Crocodile sizeCrocodylus novaeguineae -from2.7 meters in females up to3 .5 meters in males.Measured body weight - 294.5 kg.

The New Guinea crocodile is divided into two populations - northern and southern. The way of life (especially masonry) of crocodiles in them is slightly different. In the northern population, the nest is built on water from plants, in the southern population, more often on land.

The New Guinea crocodile is the most vociferous crocodile: both babies and adults make a huge amount of soundsfor different life situations which allows them to "communicate".

Orinoksky

This crocodile(Crocodylus intermedius) has the status of an endangered species in the Red Book. To date, its number is estimated as extremely low to maintain the population - only up to one and a half thousand.

Vin the fifties and sixties of the last century, after mass hunting, the population was practically on the verge of extinction. In 1970, after the introduction of the protected statusthe number has increased slightly.It is still exterminated, as it has valuable skin.In addition, the local population collects crocodile babies for the purpose of subsequent sale.

Lives in Venezuela and Colombia (the basin prefers fresh lakes and rivers.

The size of the crocodile is quite impressive - up to 5.2 meters (males), females are much smaller - up to 3.6 meters. Due to the lack of knowledge (due to the lack of the individuals themselves), there is a problem in determining the mass. How much does a crocodile weigh Crocodylus intermedius, known from hunters, the average weight of a male is 380 kg, females - 225 kg.

V clutch maximum 70 eggs. The mother not only guards the eggs for two and a half months before hatching, but also takes care of the babies for the next three years.

There have been cases of attacks on people. But due to the small population and the inaccessibility of habitats, this rarely happens.

sharp-nosed

The largest crocodile in the New World. Lives in fresh and salt lakes, at the mouths of rivers. They move well on the water, populating the islands. The size of a crocodile of this species depends on the population, somewhere less (up to 4 meters on average), somewhere more (up to 5-6 meters in hardened males). The main food - fish, unlike combed and Nile (similar in size), do not switch to feeding on mammals. Seen in attacks on people, although these are quite rare cases.

Freshwater (Crocodylus johnsoni)

Inhabits does not go out to sea and estuaries, being afraid of being caught by the combed (marine) crocodile. It feeds on fish and small vertebrates. Sizes on average up to 3 meters, in the population in northern Australia, the size is smaller. It is not dangerous for humans, since the force of compression of its jaws is rather weak. How long do crocodiles Crocodylus johnsoni live in captivity (in particular, in Australian zoo) is known for sure - up to twenty years, although presumably individual individuals can exist and grow up to a hundred years or more.

Siamese (Crocodylus siamensis)

F Yvet v Indonesia, Brunei, East Malaysia, southern Indochina. Populations of crocodiles living in all countries of the region number only 5,000 individuals. Listed in the Red Book. In Kam boje and thailand successfully operate special programs to preserve the species. The maximum size of this crocodile is 3 meters, although when hybridized with a combed one, it is up to 4 meters. It feeds on fish and small vertebrates.

Philippine (Crocodylus mindorensis)

An endangered species, only 200 adults. The maximum size is up to three meters. Feeds on fish and small mammals. Previously considered a subspecies of the New Guinean crocodile, it is now separated into a separate species.

Central American (Crocodylus moreletii)

Lives in tropical forests Central America. The size of males in today's conditions is up to 2.7 meters (earlier, according to the results of hunting, up to 4.5 meters and weighing up to 400 kg). Cannibalism has not been noticed lately, the explanation for this is the remoteness of habitats. It feeds on fish, reptiles and mammals.

Blunt-nosed crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) - West African pygmy crocodile

Grows up to 1.8 meters (maximum), weight from 18 to 32 kilograms (maximum 80 kg), occurs alone or in pairs, lives in burrows or hollows lah of trees leaning close to the water. It's a heavily armored crocodile(he needs this to protect himself from those who eat him large predators) , with dark spots on the back and sides, with a yellow belly.Compared to the biggest combed crocodile(before9 -and meters) he's just a baby,countsthe smallest crocodilein the world (similar in size to a smooth-fronted caiman).

Belongs to the little-studied species. According to the study, the number of crocodile is slowly decreasing due to changes in the ecosystem of habitats (deforestation, approaching places of human activity). It is listed in the Red Book with the status of little vulnerable.

Lives in western Africa. Prefers fresh water. Leads night image life. It digs deep holes, and quite often their entrance is located below the water level.

The clutch usually contains 10 eggs (sometimes up to 20).

Tomistoma schlegelii (false gharial)

Lives in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam. Prefers slow rivers swampy lakes. Lives among thickets or on drifting islands of vegetation. The species of false gharials is listed in the Red Book with the status of “threatened with extinction. The number of all populations is no more than 2500 adults. The size of males of this species can reach up to 6 meters. Because of the elongated muzzle, it got its name - gharial. The narrow long muzzle is the result of eating habits, mainly soft mammals and reptiles. V last years b There have been several attacks on people her.

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