The largest crocodile in our time. The largest crocodiles in the world. The main diet of reptiles of this species
Salted crocodile is the most dangerous reptile in the world. He was worshiped, he was feared at all times. "King of reptiles", "thunderstorm of all life" - all this is also said about him. Officially, the largest crocodile in the world is also he. What is special about it?
Habitat
The territory on which the reptile dominates is quite extensive. These are the coastal zones of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the east of India, Asia, the central part of Vietnam, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the north of Australia. Due to the fact that the largest crocodile on earth is a good swimmer, it is also found in Japan and the Philippines.
It can live both in river and sea water, often competing with sharks in the ocean when looking for food.
The reptile chooses deep and quiet places. Usually these are seashores, grassy plains of estuaries or tropical savannahs.
The struggle for the best territories is constantly going on, merciless battles are far from uncommon. Losing individuals go in search of new places, and often swim out to the open sea.
External Description
The reptile got its name for the presence of two crests on its head, which start from the very eyes and stretch in a strip to the end of the muzzle. Such convex formations appear in individuals already in adulthood, they are absent in young animals.
The combed crocodile has a rather massive body, which is covered with small oval-shaped scales. Also, describing the reptile, it is worth noting a very large head with a long muzzle, a powerful and strong tail, and well-developed legs. There are five webbed fingers on the front, and only four on the back. The body of a crocodile is fully adapted to life in the water.
The jaws of the reptile are also impressive. In the mouth, small but very sharp teeth are clearly visible, bringing death to all living things. Usually there are from 54 to 68 pieces, which can change up to 100 times during a lifetime. But the muscles of the jaws are developed unequally. In particular, those responsible for opening the mouth are very weak. However, the animal does not experience any particular inconvenience from this. The muscles responsible for closing work instantly; it is impossible for someone else to forcefully open them.
Salted crocodile has excellent eyesight. Sees well both on land and in water. When immersed, the eye is automatically covered by a protective membrane. However, the most developed sense is hearing. The animal is able to recognize even a slight rustle.
The largest crocodiles in the world change their color throughout their lives. Juveniles are usually lighter, yellow-brown with almost black spots and stripes. Adult reptiles become darker, with noticeable gray and brown areas. The belly of the animal is always yellow-white or ashy.
Size and age
The parameters of this type deserve special attention. Often meets the question of what size the largest crocodiles in the world are. Answering it, it is worth noting that much depends on age, since the individual does not stop growing throughout his life.
Males are much larger than females. They can reach 7 m in length and weigh up to 1500 kg. However, they mostly grow up to 4-5.5 m with a body weight of 600-1000 kg. It is worth noting that combed crocodiles of the same size can have different weights (depending on age). So, for example, old males, occupying the best territories and having good food, will be much heavier than their young relatives.
Female reptiles are significantly smaller. In length, they reach 3.5 m with a weight of up to 500 kg.
In 2011, the largest crocodile in the world was caught in the Philippines, but died due to improper captivity. With a body weight of 1075 kg, it grew to 6.1 m.
On average, a combed crocodile lives 80-100 years. However, in our time, it is very difficult to meet an animal even older than 50 years due to its extermination by man.
Nutrition
The reptile is a predator. The basis of its diet is fish, birds, amphibians and insects. Growing up, they already hunt deer, monkeys, wild boars, turtles, snakes. They are also attracted by livestock: cows, goats, sheep, horses and donkeys. The combed crocodile can also eat its smaller relatives, as well as animals such as tiger, buffalo and leopard. The person becomes a victim. However, the diet of a reptile is highly dependent on the area where it lives.
The world's largest crocodile goes hunting in the evening or morning twilight. Waiting for potential prey in the water. At the same time, it is practically invisible on the surface, only nostrils, eyes and a little back. The attack is always unexpected. Jumping onto land, the reptile grabs its prey, knocks it down with its tail, and together with it again goes into the pond. But with a large fish, the crocodile, on the contrary, goes to land.
Its jaws are so strong that it can shatter the shell of a tortoise or break the skull of a large animal. Only the largest crocodile in the world is capable of this.
The largest crocodile, however, does not know how to chew; on land, with the help of its jaws, it crushes the carcass of an animal and swallows it in parts. He can leave a large victim at the bottom of the reservoir so that it becomes soft. It is worth noting that this reptile feeds on carrion extremely rarely.
At one meal, up to a quarter of the mass of the hunter himself can be swallowed. In this case, most of it goes into fat. This feature helps to survive prolonged fasting (up to 1.5 years).
The combed crocodile itself has no enemies, with the exception of man. Its meat is edible.
reproduction
The female reaches puberty by 10 years, while growing up to 2-2.5 m, males only by 16, reaching 3.2 m in length.
Reproduction occurs during the rainy season, from March to November. The female digs a hole and lays from 20 to 90 eggs in it, then falls asleep with a mixture of earth, leaves, dirt and branches, while forming a hill of impressive size - 50 cm in height and up to 1.8 m in diameter. Every year a new nest is dug, but the breeding place does not change.
After 80-98 days, cubs are born. If the egg is constantly maintained at a temperature of 31-32 degrees, then males are born, if lower or higher, then females. All this time, the expectant mother is nearby. Little crocodiles are born all at once and begin to make sounds resembling croaking. Hearing them, the female breaks the hole and helps the offspring to get out. After that, in the teeth, he transfers everyone into the water.
The world's largest crocodile turns into a caring mother who will be with the kids in the next 1.5 years. However, only 1% of the offspring grows to adults, the rest become victims of predators.
Reaching two years, the reptile becomes completely independent and goes in search of its territory.
Crocodiles have various features that at first glance are completely unusual for this species. Here are some of them:
- On their territory, they maintain exemplary order. Crocodiles remove everything they consider superfluous from the bottom, throwing it ashore with their muzzle. They destroy the thickets, and if the reservoir becomes shallow, they dig deep enough holes.
- A reptile, like a chameleon, can change its color throughout the day. So, early in the morning, when the water and air have not yet warmed up, the animal is darker. This helps it better absorb the sun's rays. Warming up, the skin becomes lighter again.
- The largest crocodiles in the world "cry", but not at all from pity. Thus, they get rid of excess salt in the body.
- They can jump out of the water up to two meters in height.
- Being a cold-blooded creature, a reptile, with muscle tension, is able to raise body temperature by 7 degrees above ambient.
- The world's largest crocodile is resting with its mouth open - in case someone accidentally falls into it.
- His teeth are hollow, and there are always new ones inside, only a little smaller. Therefore, the change occurs imperceptibly for the animal itself.
The largest crocodile in captivity
A reptile named Classius Clay is quite famous in Australia. Lives in captivity for almost 30 years. In 2013, when the crocodile celebrated its 110th birthday, he received a 20-kilogram chicken "cake" as a gift. It is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's largest crocodile living in captivity and in salt water.
It is kept on one of the local farms, weighs about a ton, has reached a length of 5.48 m. According to scientists, it will live for at least another 30 years.
The difference between a crocodile and an alligator
These two reptiles are often confused. However, they have notable differences.
Alligators can only live in fresh water, because they do not know how to remove excess salt from their body, as the combed crocodile does through tears and special glands under the tongue.
There are also external differences. Crocodiles have a more elongated muzzle, while alligators have a wide, blunt end. Also, with closed jaws, the record holder has a clearly visible fourth tooth, which his closest relative does not have.
Crocodile in ancient Egypt
This reptile was revered in ancient times, it was considered a sacred animal. So, in ancient Egypt there was a god of water Sebek with the head of a crocodile. Mummified bodies of these animals have been found more than once in the caves.
Every year, young girls were sacrificed to the reptiles. And if the crocodiles accidentally ate someone, then the victim was buried with great honors.
However, often due to abundant and malnutrition, animals died due to obesity.
Crocodiles are one of the most dangerous predators on the planet. They appeared 83.5 million ago and spread to almost everyone, populating the reservoirs of tropical countries. Modern representatives of the detachment crocodilia there are only 24 species. Let's talk about the top ten largest of them.
Siamese crocodile
Representatives of this species are common in some countries in southeast Asia. They usually grow no more than 3-4 m, but individuals crossed with combed crocodiles can have more impressive sizes. They can be found in swamps, on the banks of lakes or in slow-flowing rivers. They feed on reptiles and small ones. In many territories, these crocodiles were on the verge of extinction and were listed in the Red Book. According to scientists, there are only about 5 thousand of them left.
swamp crocodile
Photo: Hari Mohan Meena/Wikimedia Common
Its habitual habitats are the Hindustan peninsula and the nearest countries. He chooses swamps, rivers and lakes with fresh water for life. Some individuals settle in artificial shallow reservoirs, in rare cases - in lagoons with brackish water. Males of this species of crocodiles, as a rule, grow up to 3.5 m and weigh no more than 200 kg. But there are specimens and 4-5 m in length with a mass of about 600-700 kg. The number of reptiles of this species is steadily declining, which is associated with the destructive activities of man. In order to prevent the complete extinction of these animals, special programs are in place in India aimed at preserving and increasing the population.
Mississippi alligator
Representatives of the alligator family belong to the general order of crocodiles. Their main appearance is a very wide muzzle. Alligators of this species live in the southeastern states of the United States, preferring to settle in freshwater stagnant reservoirs. Sometimes they climb into the swimming pools of private houses, scaring the locals. And there is something to be afraid of, because these alligators grow up to 4.5 m. There is evidence that previously there were individuals with a body length of over 5 m, according to other sources - 6.3 m, and their weight was about 500 kg.
black caiman
Photo: Jan Willem Kaptein/Wikimedia Common
Another crocodile from the alligator family. It lives in the countries of the central part. The body length of this large predator on average reaches 4 m or more, and the weight approaches 300 kg. In some places, in particular, in the Madeira River, there are caimans about 4.5-5 m long. Black alligators live in large reservoirs, they rarely get out on land. They feed on various mammals, snakes and smaller crocodiles. Their dark coloration helps them to remain almost invisible during night hunting, and powerful jaws can easily cope even with the strong shell of a huge turtle.
West African crocodile
Photo: Marco Schmidt/Wikimedia Common
From the name it is clear where this predator lives. In the same territories, the Nile crocodiles are also common, with which it is often confused. But representatives of the West African species are significantly inferior in size to their Nile relatives. Their length rarely reaches even 5 m. The basis of the diet of young individuals is also fish, the older generation includes larger animals in its menu. Crocodiles living in Mauritania have adapted to survive even in a very dry climate, for which they are also called desert. It is interesting that the inhabitants of this state protect crocodiles. They believe that if these reptiles disappear, then the water will disappear after them.
Gangetic gharial
The only representative of the gharial genus. It differs from all other crocodiles in its very narrow, elongated jaw, which helps it hunt fish. The average body length of the gharial is 4-4.5 m, but some individuals grow up to 5 and 5.5 m. There is evidence of a 6-meter giant. These predators weigh less than other crocodiles, the measured specimens were only 159 and 181 kg. Gangetic gharials are common in the north of Hindustan and on the Indo-Gangetic plain.
Sharp-nosed American crocodile
Photo: Henry Forson/Wikimedia Common
It lives in the tropical waters of North and South America. Prefers to settle in swamps, estuaries and lakes. It can be found in both fresh and salt water. The maximum body length of representatives of this species reaches 6 m; such giants are found in the basins of South American rivers. Individuals living in continental rivers rarely grow more than 4 m, and crocodiles from the islands and coasts are even more modest in size.
Orinoco crocodile
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Due to its impressive body size, it is considered the largest animal in South America. It grows over 5.2 m in length and can even deal with a horse. Representatives of this species live in the Orinoco River basin, for which they got their name. The basis of the diet of adult crocodiles are reptiles, mammals and large fish. Sometimes they may prey on birds and invertebrates. Due to the uncontrolled extermination of Orinoco crocodiles for the sake of valuable skin and meat, their numbers have been reduced to a critical level. Measures taken for protection and a complete ban on hunting have not yet yielded positive results.
Nile crocodile
The body length of one of the most dangerous crocodiles in the world often exceeds 5 and even 5.5 m. It lives on the African continent, where it occupies the upper step in water and semi-water. He has excellent hearing, and the bite force is approximately 2268 kg, which allows him to hunt even very large animals. The Nile crocodile usually lives in freshwater swamps, rivers and lakes, but sometimes comes across in brackish mangroves. He has an extremely aggressive character and does not tolerate other animals on his territory, with the exception of relatives. It is to this species that the infamous man-eating crocodile Gustav belongs, on whose account at least 300 human deaths.
combed crocodile
Photo: Bernard DUPONT/flickr
The largest representative of the order of crocodiles usually grows over 5.2 m in length. The largest individuals can reach 6-6.3 m and weigh more than 1.3 tons. Salted crocodiles are found in the coastal zones of the South and Southeast, off the coast of the northern part and on the islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are tolerant of salt water and can swim far out to sea in pursuit of prey. They can be distinguished from other species by their wider muzzle with 2 protruding ridges that serve to protect the eyes. In addition, they have the longest tail, approximately equal to the length of the body with the head. They hunt at dusk, their victims in most cases are animals that come to the watering place. There is practically no chance of surviving the object of hunting, since with powerful jaws a crocodile can easily split even the skull of a large buffalo.
Reading the article will take: 4 min.With skin so beloved by fashion fans of both sexes, equipped with impressive teeth, claws and a combed tail, modern crocodiles inspire horror. They don’t even have to growl - they lie somewhere near a river, lake or in a zoo enclosure without moving and look scary in and of themselves. But imagine a crocodile whose head alone is longer than a human being! We are talking about the largest crocodile in the history of the Earth, named in 1966 by the paleontologist de Bruyn "the master among his own kind."
The French paleontologist Albert-Félix de Laparrent spent several years of his life (from 1946 to 1959) searching for fossils in the Sahara desert, leading a scientific expedition. During the excavation of the Cretaceous deposits, he found fragmentary fossils, possibly belonging to the same reptile - pieces of the skull, individual vertebrae, teeth and lamellar scutes (osteoderms). Laparrent suggested that these fossils belonged to a previously unknown species of crocodile. His guess was confirmed in 1964, when another expedition of French paleontologists discovered an almost complete reptile skull in Niger, but scientists received a complete picture of the size and body structure of a giant crocodile only in 2000. During two expeditions conducted in the desert of Tenere (Niger) in 1997 and 2000, the American paleontologist Paul Sereno managed to find and extract fossils belonging to six individuals of the species Sarcosuchus imperator, and the skeleton of one of these huge crocodiles was 50% complete.
The body length of an adult sarcosuchus was about 12 meters - head 1.5-1.8 m, body 5-5.5 m and tail 4-4.5 m. The maximum weight of the "emperor among crocodiles" was approximately 6.5-7 tons. The eyes were located on the sides of the head, much further apart than in modern crocodiles. The protruding upper jaw contained 35 teeth on the left and right sides, on the lower jaw on the left and right there were 31 teeth each, from 12 to 17 cm long.
At the end of the upper jaw in the skull of the Sarcosuchus is a large oval hole, the purpose of which scientists do not know exactly. There are two assumptions - there is a particularly sensitive organ of smell or a giant crocodile made a loud roar with it, leading the victim to a stupor. Unlike modern crocodiles, the osteodermal scutes on the head and back of the largest crocodile in the history of our planet formed a single shield - there was no area with ordinary skin between the sets of scutes on the head and back. This means that the sarcosuchus could not raise its head in order to seize the victim from an ambush (from an underwater position), he had to attack with a sharp forward thrust with a powerful closing of the jaws at the object of the hunt.
In the last century, paleontologists believed that the giant crocodile species Sarcosuchus imperator inhabited exclusively the fresh waters of Africa 110 million years ago, in the early stages of the Cretaceous. But after the discovery of Paul Sereno's finds in Africa and a close examination of the fossilized fragment of the jaw, two teeth and the dorsal shield, found at the end of the 19th century by the American explorer Charles Hart in Brazil, paleontologists came to the conclusion that these finds also belong to the Sarcosuchus crocodile.
Having studied the "growth rings" - the bone tissue on the dorsal scutes of crocodiles grows gradually and ring-shaped, similar to the rings on the cuts of trees - on osteoderms, paleontologists came to the conclusion that Sarcosuchus reached gigantic growth gradually, as it grew older. Those. the largest crocodiles from the Cretaceous period were not accelerators, like modern elephants - their body reached a length of more than 11 meters by the age of 50-60 years, and they lived for over 100 years.
The objects of hunting for sarcosuchus were river and lake fish, freshwater (for example, diplodocus) and land dinosaurs (for example, Iguanodon). Having reached their maximum growth, the giant crocodiles were not afraid to fight for prey with the largest representatives of the family of predatory dinosaurs themselves. Even in the confrontation against the greatest predator of the Cretaceous period - the Spinosaurus - an adult sarkhosuchus could well emerge victorious, using a lightning throw to the belly and exposing the armored back to the predator's teeth. By the way, tests of a complete mechanical copy of the "emperor of crocodiles" showed that he was not able to cling to the victim and then spin like a top, tearing it to pieces (deadly rotation) - only a direct attack and a powerful closing of the jaws with a force of 80071.3 newtons!
Representatives of the species Sarcosuchus imperator became completely extinct by about the middle of the Cretaceous period, along with many families and species of the terrestrial fauna that reigned on Earth for many millions of years before that.
Finally, let's compare the parameters of sarcosuchus with the largest modern representative of its genus, the combed crocodile (shown in the photo), indicating in brackets similar characteristics of the extinct "emperor" of crocodiles: maximum body length - 7 m (12 m); life span - about 100 years (about 100 years); weight - 2000 kg (7000 kg); skull length - 0.98 m (1.8 m); number of teeth - 68 pcs. (132 pieces); the greatest length of the tooth is 9 cm (17 cm); maximum bite force - 34424 newtons (80071.3 newtons). Impressive difference, right?
For a visual representation of the power of the most powerful crocodile in the history of our planet, I offer a video about a sarcosuchus hunting a young paralithitan and forced to fight for prey with another predatory dinosaur - a carcharodontosaurus:
It is not difficult to distinguish a crocodile from an alligator - crocodiles have a more elongated jaw and you can clearly see the upper front tooth.
This predator, dangerous even for humans, can reach impressive sizes. Today, the largest crocodile in the world is combed (ridged). It is named so because of the two characteristic ridges on the nose of the reptile, running from the eyes to the middle of the upper jaw. Such crocodiles live on a fairly large territory - they can be found off the eastern coasts of Africa and India and the Far East, in most states of South Asia and off the coast of Japan. Their habitat also stretches from South Asia to Northern Australia.
There have been several individuals that are rightfully considered champions because of their size in recent decades.
Cannibal Gustav from Burundi
Of these, the largest crocodile named Gustav was shot dead in 1987. at the request of local residents in the Republic of Burundi, where he terrified the local population. There were rumors about the murder of about 300 people by this reptile, and the locals said that the crocodile hunts people, but does not eat them.
Crocodile Gustav
This crocodile reached a length of 6.1 meters and weighed more than a ton. Scientists suggest that other, larger crocodiles can be found in the habitat of Gustav, but there is only accurate information about the existence of Gustav, who was considered the largest.
Longevity Cassius Clay
To date, Cassius Clay lives in Australia - the oldest crocodile, which is recognized as the largest crocodile living in salt water. In 2013, Australians celebrated the 110th anniversary of the animal.
Crocodile Cassius Clay
The name of the reptile was given in honor of the famous boxer (Cassius Clay is his real name). Cassius is 5.48m long and weighs 1000kg. He appeared in 2011 on the pages of the Guinness Book of Records as the largest crocodile.
Philippine Lolong
All crested crocodiles can live in both fresh and salt water, often living in estuaries, where they hunt. In 2011, in the town of Buanawan in the Philippines, an even larger crocodile than Gustav was caught, named Lolong.
Crocodile Lolong
He was placed in a water eco-park specially built for him, where he lived until 2013. The reasons for the death of the reptile suggest two - a nylon cord swallowed by a crocodile and unusually cold weather for this climate. Officially, the reason has not yet been named. In length, Lolong reached 6.4 meters, and weighed more than a ton. For a short time in 2012, he was listed in the Guinness Book of Records, but after the death of the reptile, Cassius Clay is still the largest crocodile in the world.
Biggest ever
Of all the crocodiles that lived on our planet, the largest was the sarcosuchus, which lived on Earth during the Cretaceous period. It reached a length of 12 meters and weighed about 8 tons. Scientists made such a conclusion based on the found remains of animals. In the middle of the 20th century, in the Sahara, the French paleontologist Albert-Felix de Lapparent found teeth and several armor shields of such a crocodile, and skeletons were later found.
Sarcosuchus crocodile skeleton
Although crocodiles can kill a person, today people are more likely to hunt and kill these reptiles. After all, crocodile skin is a very valuable material, for the sake of which crocodiles are massively exterminated, and their numbers have greatly decreased in recent years in the world. Factors such as the development of the habitats of these animals and extermination out of fear also play a role in reducing their numbers, since crocodiles often prey on people.
In some countries (Australia, India, Myanmar) reptiles are taken under protection. There are programs to restore their numbers, young crocodiles are raised on farms from eggs, hunting for them is prohibited. The strongest measures to protect reptiles are taken in Australia, and their numbers there have increased in recent years. And in countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand, crocodiles have probably disappeared completely. In Vietnam, their number does not exceed 100 individuals.
And in continuation of the theme of the largest animals, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with.
Of all my relatives the largest crocodile - combed. The length of some individuals reaches seven meters in length, and the weight is one ton. Quite a bit inferior to this kind nile crocodile- the parameters of individual instances are practically the same here. The average size of these two "rocks" is about four to five meters. The largest seven-meter combed crocodile today lives in the Indian Zoo, along with its three six-meter counterparts. According to scientists, crocodiles live up to a hundred years, and, accordingly, their size depends on their age.
But the giant Nile crocodile was last caught in 1905 - its length was also more than six meters. A fairly large individual was caught in the 2000s in the Philippines: its length was 5.48 meters in length. It is established that this reptile was about 50 years old. It had to be caught because this crocodile attacked local residents and livestock.
A large six-meter crocodile was caught in Central Africa, the Republic of Burundi, in 2002. The hunter Patrice Faye managed to do this: he lured the reptile into a cage with a kid. This individual is about a hundred years old; according to various sources, it caused the loss of about fifty people and an incredible amount of local livestock.
Grebnisty is the leader not only in size, but also in the number of attacks on people - its Nile counterpart is in second place. In general, crocodiles can be classified as dinosaurs by the antiquity of their habitat on earth, unlike which they survived, but did not undergo any species changes. Probably, this was influenced by the fact that crocodiles live mainly in water, which means that the changes that took place in the environment had very little effect on them. The largest crocodiles were in antiquity: today the remains of 12-meter individuals with truly gigantic jaws have been found.
Crocodiles are freshwater animals, however, at the same time they easily tolerate salt water. The fact is that most species have spread over the earth precisely thanks to their sea voyages. In particular, the Nile crocodile came to Madagascar, presumably through the Mozambique Channel. The ridged species lives in Australia, New Zealand, India and southeast Asia. In addition, there are many testimonies of sailors when they met crocodiles in the open ocean six hundred kilometers from the coast.
Close relatives of crocodiles are alligators, which are quite a bit smaller than them. In particular, a huge alligator was caught on Marsh Island - this is the US state of Louisiana. This large reptile was 5.8 meters long and weighed over one ton. In addition to the caught individual, others live on this island, but slightly smaller in size. Alligators themselves include two main species - Chinese and American; They are named after their habitats. Alligators from China today are considered an endangered species and are found exclusively in the Yangtze River. Their American relatives, on the contrary, are very numerous and distributed almost throughout the country. For example, in Florida alone today there are up to a million individuals.
Many, having seen films about alligators, can say that this type of reptile is rather slow. However, this is absolutely not the case: these animals are capable of developing high speeds over short distances - up to 45 kilometers per hour. Young alligators eat small fish, snails, insects and crustaceans. As they grow, prey also becomes larger - turtles, birds, large fish and sometimes carrion are used. Quite adult reptiles attack bears and deer. As for the cases of hunting people, the concept as such is not at all appropriate here, although many are sure of the opposite. The fact is that crocodiles are afraid of people and attack only in self-defense when they get too close. In general, in recent years, about ten “high-profile” attacks on people have been known that ended in the death of the latter.
Alligators breed, like crocodiles, with eggs - one clutch is up to twenty pieces. Breeding begins in the spring, when the water starts to get warmer. Crocodile eggs, like those of other animals and birds, are completely defenseless. Therefore, the mother has to protect them - until they hatch into small cubs resembling lizards. After hatching, small offspring tend to be closer to the mother, and she protects them for a year, until they are fully grown. The main difference between a crocodile and an alligator is the presence of a large fourth tooth in the upper jaw of the first.
Today, the alligator breeding industry is well developed, when they are specially bred for delicious meat and strong beautiful skin. Shoes, bags, wallets, belts and more are made from the latter. At the same time, crocodiles and alligators are being poached - because of this, all their species are listed in the Red Book today, and some have completely disappeared. Until the 70s of the last century, crocodile hunting was completely legal, which led to their rapid reduction. Business related to these terrible reptiles is developing in another direction, namely tourism.
For example, the Australian national park called "Kakadu" every year receives more than two hundred thousand tourists who want to see the giant combed crocodiles. To do this, river trams run along the water, from where the curious can see these large reptiles in their natural habitat. Almost all visitors to Kakadu bypass the town of Darwin - it is located on the coast, a little north of the park. Here, anyone can see how crocodiles live in the sea, because. it is here that the legendary bay, called the "bay of crocodiles" is located. The entire local territory, two hundred meters from the water, is patrolled by these terrible animals, so no one ever swims here. However, with all the caution of local residents, there are still daredevils, as a result of which the local sheriff often receives reports of cases of attacks by crocodiles on people.
An interesting species of crocodiles - gavial, or Gavialis gangeticus, - is very little inferior in size to its combed and Nile counterparts. These reptiles have a very original appearance, namely, a long narrow muzzle, similar to tweezers, studded with the same long and sharp teeth. The older the gharial, the longer and narrower its muzzle - this form is only suitable for catching fish, which, in fact, such crocodiles do. For special hunting convenience, the teeth are angled. The body length of adult male gharials averages six meters. These creatures live in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan and the Hindustan Peninsula.
The most natural habitat of gharials is fresh water, and the deepest areas. These creatures are very poorly adapted to land, because. they have almost no leg muscles - for the most part they are engaged in swimming. Gharials come to land only for breeding and sunbathing. While medium-sized individuals hunt for fish, larger ones sometimes prefer to feast on birds and even small mammals. Quite often, local residents find jewelry and human remains in the stomachs of captured gharials. This does not mean at all that reptiles prey on people - they eat corpses that are buried in rivers by Indians according to an ancient tradition.
