08/11/2022
Crocodylus niloticus, the dinosaurs that made it! π That's why they smile so wide.
The ones we have in Southern Africa are still, in fact, under the genus Nile Crocodile, even though they don't hang out in the Nile.
Hold on to your hats because these creatures are awesome, and I could honestly write a 10-page essay on how awesome and fierce they are.
An adult croc can weigh up to 1000kg. Crocs are meat eaters. Feasting on whatever creature is unfortunate enough to head for a drink within chomping distance. Mostly antelope, big cats, and buffalo. They are also known to eat hippos and fish, and in some unfortunate cases, humans.
They will grab their prey with their powerful jaws, a force of more than 5,000 pounds per square inch, and they swim to deeper waters to do what is called a death roll, where they tumble around until the prey is fully submitted. After that, they will leave the prey in the water to soften the meat before consuming it. Helpful to other crocodiles, they have been observed to hold a carcass still while another one takes a bite. How accommodating, right? The dominant crocodile always eats first, though. Kind of like lions.
You may have seen crocodile hunters jumping on the backs of crocodiles and holding the jaws shut and thought "HOW?!" that's because their jaws are more geared towards closing and are surprisingly weak at opening.
On a lighter note. Their quirkiness knows no bounds. If we observe the breeding habits of crocodiles, it's hard not to giggle. When a croc feels particularly randyπ, it will blow bubbles in the water, sending vibrating signals to nearby mates that they are in the mood. π
Females will lay around 40 eggs in a burrow. If you walk along the banks of a river, you can sometimes hear a distinct call from the babies. That is how they signal mom to come and fetch them. The mother crocodile sporting a jaw that could crush through even the mightiest jaw breaker, will gently carry her young to the water. If you do hear their calls, rest assured that mom is near. She cools off in the water but regularly returns to the nest to protect her eggs from predators.
The gender of crocodiles is dependent on the ambient temperature around the 3rd week of gestation. Eggs on the outside of the hutch that are more exposed to the elements will typically be female, while where it is warmer and more consistent, more males will form.
They have no natural predators and can live up to 80 years in captivity but generally live to around 45.
This trophy is recommended for a skilled hunter. If your shot isn't placed very well, you could be in danger because of the distance required for a good shot, and if you don't have time to produce a lethal shot, the crocodile will disappear into the depths, and the trophy may be lost. Sneaking up on a trophy crocodile is a lot more challenging and exciting than many hunters realize.
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