How much does a crocodile weigh? The smallest and largest crocodile. How long do crocodiles live

The crocodile was recognized as the largest land predator of nature. The size of the animal is colossal. It takes a lot of energy and food to maintain life.

These animals appeared on earth millions of years ago. And today their appearance is no different from its predecessors. The average life expectancy is about 100 years, it all depends on the area of ​​residence. V wildlife life lasts - 80-100 years, in captivity - 40-50 years with proper maintenance. In the article we will consider the lifestyle of one species of crocodiles - the Nile.

The Nile representative, like everyone else, is short-legged. The limbs are on the side of the torso. The animal is scaly, powerful. The eyes (ears and nostrils) are on top of the head. This makes it possible to be almost completely under water. The color palette of the animal, gray or light brown with stripes, makes it possible to be invisible. Almost invisible with age.

The skin of the Nile crocodile is considered the most expensive and high quality.

Often animals move on their stomachs, but they can also walk with a raised body. Individuals of small sizes can run at a gallop for short distances at a speed of 12-14 km / h. speed in water - 30 km / h.

The Nile crocodile is a predatory animal that can be found in African countries... It hunts mainly for animals, but it poses a danger to humans. The population of this particular species is large enough.

Due to their size, crocodiles hunt for larger animals, avoiding elephants and hippos.

Adult parameters:

• Length - 5 m (6 m met).
• Weight - 225-550 kg.

The crocodile's heart consists of 4 chambers - this makes it possible to be under water for a long period (up to 2 hours). Slow metabolism and low temperature bodies allow not to eat daily, but at one time the animal can absorb food in half its weight.

The crocodile's diet is completely meat. Crocodiles born eat small aquatic inhabitants and insects. After a couple of weeks, the food becomes more varied and large.

Adults eat large food, fish, animals and birds that drink water on the shore of the reservoir. These can be real lions, hyenas, leopards, monkeys, zebras, etc.

Great danger nile crocodile represents for a person. According to numerous sources, he takes about a thousand lives.

During the hunt, predators behave cautiously. They wait for the victim far from the shore, hiding under the water. Further, they sharply attack, inflicting with their teeth fatal bites, or drown. They can feed on carrion, but not rotten.

Reproduction

The breeding period of the Nile crocodile depends on the area of ​​residence, in the northern part it is a time of drought, in the south it is rainy time. Males compete for the female's attention. The one who wins the fight remains with the "lady". At the same time, they can snort, roar, splash.

Upon completion of mating, the female leaves in search of a secluded place for laying. Most often it is sand. 20-100 eggs can be laid per clutch. After 90 days, new offspring will appear. Throughout this period, both parents responsibly guard the masonry.

When the babies are born, the mother helps them get to the water. They live in shallow water for up to 10 weeks. The younger generation scatters in search of shelter and food. The life span of a crocodile in such conditions is about 45-50 years. There are cases up to 85 years old.

The Nile crocodile is divided into several types:

• Ethiopian.
• Malagasy.
• Central African.
• West African.
• East African.
• South African.
• Kenyan.

As you know, crocodiles live much less in captivity. The reasons for this are different:

• Since ancient times, people began to massively exterminate these animals so that they would not hunt livestock.
• At a certain period, the world was enveloped in a wave of fashion for crocodile leather products.

The number of crocodiles killed for the skin is colossal. Statistics:

• Killed - about 1 million.
• Skins sold - 190 thousand.

In 1944, a law was passed prohibiting the hunt for these animals. Otherwise, the American alligator would become extinct altogether.

Today, the hunt does not stop, poor peoples risk their lives to catch a crocodile and sell his skin. Young mothers die, eggs are left unprotected. Therefore, the survival rate of the livestock is reduced.

The lifespan of the crocodile and the massive change in living conditions will interfere. Forests are being cut down, water bodies are drying up, bridges and dams, shops and housing estates are being erected. This fact also reduces the number of various animals that the crocodile feeds on.

For this reason, predators can eat endangered species of fish and animals. For some individuals, this combination of circumstances plays a positive role. Those places that the female prepares for laying eggs are filled with water, and various fish live there, birds come to drink water.

American crocodile (pointed-nosed). Have large size, up to 6 meters. The color range is brown or olive gray. Weighs about 400-500 kilograms. They live on average up to 45 years. Eggs laid by a female can be stolen by raccoons, wild cats, birds. It practically does not attack people.

Crocodile African narrow-necked. Average size - about 3-4 meters, weight - 230 kilograms. The color range is varied, olive-gray, almost black, brown. There are dark spots on the tail. Lives approximately 50 years or more. Listed in the Red Book. The main enemy is a man whose target is skin and meat.

Orinox crocodile. One of the largest, up to 7 meters long, females no more than 3.5 meters. Weight - 200 kilograms, there were 350 kilograms of individuals. the color range is red with brown, the body is covered with dark spots. They live on average 50-60 years, there are no exact data. Babies are hunted by birds, snakes, foxes and humans. Leather is of great value due to its large size.

Crocodile Australian narrow-necked. Lives in fresh waters, small enough. Size is no more than 3 meters, weight - 90 kilograms males, 45 kilograms females. The color scheme is brown with dark stripes. Lives no more than 50 years. The main predators are wild pigs, they hunt eggs. It feeds mainly on fish. Listed in the Red Book.

Crocodile filipino. The size of the individual is quite small, rarely reaching 3 meters. According to some reports, it lives for about a century. The main enemy is man. It feeds on aquatic inhabitants, reptiles and invertebrates. It is on the verge of extinction, it is listed in the Red Book. Today, there are no more than 200 individuals in nature.

I remember how, in my distant childhood, I came to my grandfather in Nikolaev, and we went to the city zoo. Most of all I liked the crocodile Vasya. By chance, I ended up in that city again, decided to take a walk through the old places and wandered into the zoo. Now imagine my surprise when I met the same crocodile Vasya again! And this is almost 30 years later!

How many crocodiles live in the wild

An adult crocodile is considered to be about 10 years old. In the wild, oddly enough, crocodiles live less than in captivity. On average, crocodiles live up to 40-50 years.

In fact, these reptiles in their native tropics and subtropics have no enemies, except for one - man. It is he who directly affects how long the crocodile will live. Sadly, but crocodiles are exterminated for many reasons:

• banal fear;
• lust for profit on crocodile skin;
• eating eggs and meat.

For a person, these are the most dangerous predators... The leaders in terms of the number of attacks on humans were the Nile crocodiles, crested crocodiles and marsh crocodiles.

The danger in the wild lies in wait only for young crocodiles, which can be eaten by turtles, monitor lizards and herons. Interestingly, but the crocodile does not allow its brethren to live to a venerable age. They just kill the old individual.

How many crocodiles live in captivity

Crocodiles live easier in captivity. Here man is not an enemy, other crocodiles will not attack old people. With proper care in zoos, crocodiles live up to 90-100 years.

Most old crocodile in the world today is combed crocodile Cassius Clay from Australia. He lives on the ranch and has been doing great for 114 years. On his 110th birthday, he received a huge chicken cake, weighing about 20 kg, and finished with it in just 30 seconds. And this is provided that his daily rate 1 kg of fish and 1 kg of poultry.

By the way, the crocodile I know Vasya from the zoo in Nikolaev is also a record holder! It is the oldest Mississippi alligator that lives in captivity. In general, representatives of his species live for about 40–45 years, and Vasya managed to live to the elderly 70.

In the section on the question how long does a crocodile live? given by the author Mansion the best answer is The lifespan of crocodiles and alligators in natural environment habitat is not that great:



caiman - about 4 years old.
On this moment The oldest crocodile is the Mississippi alligator from Australia, who passed away at 66. On average, at good conditions keeping crocodiles are able to live up to 40-50 years.

Answer from Your Mightiness[guru]
60-80 years approximately. In the wild, up to 100 happens.

Answer from Gorgeous[guru]
80-100

Answer from Wake up[guru]
Salted crocodile: 70 years
Nile crocodile: 70 - 100 years
Mississippi alligator: 30 - 50 years

Answer from European[newbie]
This animal is recognized as the largest land predator of all existing ones. A crocodile or an alligator can truly achieve in its life colossal size... Accordingly, for this he needs a lot of food and time. Well, if everything is fine with the first, then what about the time? How long does a crocodile live in the wild and at home?
One thing is certain: the lifespan of crocodiles and alligators in their natural habitat is not so great:
Nile crocodile - an average of 8 years;
Mississippi alligator - about 5 years old;
gavial - a large reptile of the order of crocodiles, lives on average 6 years;
caiman - about 4 years old.
At the moment, the oldest crocodile is the Mississippi alligator from Australia, who passed away at 66 years old. On average, under good conditions, crocodiles are able to live up to 40-50 years.