The skeleton of a crocodile consists of. The anatomical structure of a crocodile

Crocodiles occupy a special position among modern reptiles, being closer relatives of the extinct dinosaurs, which survived almost 60 million years, and modern birds, than other reptiles of our time. A number of features of the organization of crocodiles, and first of all the perfection of the nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems, allows us to consider them the most highly organized of all living reptiles. The evolution of crocodiles, starting from the appearance of this group about 150 million years ago, went in the direction of ever greater adaptation to the aquatic lifestyle and predation. The fact that crocodiles have survived to our time is often explained by their life in various fresh water bodies of the tropical and subtropical zones, that is, in places whose conditions have changed little since the appearance of crocodiles.

The general body shape of a crocodile is lizard-like. They are characterized by a long, laterally compressed, high tail, membranes between the fingers of the hind limbs, a long muzzle and a head flattened in the dorsal-abdominal direction. There are five fingers on the forelimbs, four on the hind limbs (there is no little finger). The nostrils, located at the front end of the muzzle, and the eyes are raised and located on the upper side of the head, which allows crocodiles to stay in the water near its surface, exposing only their eyes and nostrils to the air. External auditory openings are closed with movable valves that protect the eardrums from mechanical damage when immersed in water.

The body, tail and limbs of crocodiles are covered with large correct form horny shields located on the back and abdomen in regular rows. Dorsal shields bear longitudinal ridges. In the inner layer of the skin (corium), under the horny scutes of the outer layer on the back and in some species on the belly, bone plates (osteoderms) develop that are firmly connected with the horny scutes, forming a shell that protects the body of the crocodile well; on the head, the osteoderms fuse with the bones of the skull.

In the deep layer of the skin on the lower surface of the head, inside from the branches of the lower jaw, as well as on the sides of the cloaca, there are paired large glands that secrete a brownish secret with a strong smell of musk. The secretion of the musk glands is especially intense during the breeding season, and probably serves animals of different sexes to find each other.

Scull crocodiles has two temporal arches (diapsid): the upper one, formed by the postorbital and squamous bones, and the lower one, consisting of the zygomatic and square-zygomatic bones. These temporal arches limit the superior and lateral temporal fossae, respectively, along the edges of which chewing muscles. Extinct dinosaurs, winged lizards, modern to ANY fish (tuatara) had a similar skull structure, and the skull of birds, lizards and snakes comes from this type of skull.

Characteristic of the skull of crocodiles is the development of a secondary palate - an additional bone "bridge" under the primary palate, separating the nasopharyngeal passage from the oral cavity. The secondary palate in modern crocodiles is formed by fusion along the midline of the palatine processes of the premaxillary, maxillary, palatine, and pterygoid bones. The secondary internal nostrils - the choans - are located far behind the external nostrils under the occipital region of the skull. The secondary palate is of great functional importance for an air-breathing aquatic predator, allowing it to keep its mouth open underwater and at the same time continue to breathe through its nostrils exposed above the water. At the same time, the entrance to the pharynx is closed in front of the choanae by a palatine veil, tightly pressed against the arcuate ridge on the posterior edge of the tongue, in which the anterior edge of the hyoid apparatus lies. The elongated jaws of crocodiles can be compared to tweezers, making it easier to grasp small and mobile prey. Gharials, narrow-nosed crocodiles and other fish-feeding species have the longest jaws.

The square and articular bones of the skull of crocodiles are permeated with air-bearing outgrowths of the middle ear cavity. Most of the posterior bones of the skull contain cavities of a very overgrown and complexly branching system of the Eustachian tubes. Perhaps this whole system of passages and cavities associated with the middle ear and pharynx serves to equalize the pressure in the middle ear when immersed in water.

Teeth in crocodiles of a simple conical shape, they sit on the premaxillary, maxillary and dentary bones. They are reinforced in separate cells (thecodont), which allows crocodiles to have huge "fangs", up to 5 cm long. The bases of the teeth are hollow inside, in these cavities new, replacing teeth develop. The change of teeth during the life of a crocodile is multiple. The largest teeth are located at the tops of the convex arches of the scalloped lateral edge of the jaws, and the teeth of the upper and lower jaws are so aligned that the smallest teeth of the upper jaw fall against the largest teeth of the lower jaw, and vice versa. This allows the crocodile to more securely hold the prey seized by the jaws.

vertebral column crocodiles consists of 9 cervical, 15-16 trunk, 2 sacral and about 40 tail vertebrae. The vertebral bodies are concave anteriorly and convex posteriorly. The 2-5 posterior trunk vertebrae do not have ribs and are sometimes regarded as the lumbar spine. 6-8 trunk ribs articulate with the sternum - an oval cartilaginous plate, bifurcated behind. The belly of crocodiles is protected by 7-8 pairs of abdominal ribs that are not connected to the spine and located between the sternum and pelvis.

Crocodiles don't have collarbones and shoulder girdle consists of a scapula, a coracoid, and an interclavicle connecting the left and right halves of the belt (together with the cartilaginous sternum) below.

AT pelvic girdle the pubic bone does not enter the acetabulum and in its place is the anterior process of the ischium. In the skeleton of the forelimb, the elongation of the two proximal bones of the hand, which form an additional section of the limb, is remarkable.

In the brain of crocodiles, the cerebellum is highly developed, which indicates a high degree of coordination of movements. The sense organs are very perfect. The retina of the eye consists mainly of rods, the pupil is in the form of a vertical slit, capable of greatly expanding. The inner ear has a well developed cochlea.

AT oral cavity no salivary glands.

Stomach has thick muscular walls, and almost always in adult crocodiles there is a more or less significant amount of stones in it. The weight of stones in the stomach of Nile crocodiles reaches 5 kg (1% of body weight). The role of these stones is not entirely clear; they are supposed to increase specific gravity crocodile or. which is more likely to move the animal's center of gravity forward and downward, giving greater stability when swimming.

Circulatory system crocodile is the most perfect among reptiles, it is characterized by a complete separation of the left and right ventricles of the heart. But at the same time, both aortic arches are preserved in crocodiles. The right aortic arch passes into the dorsal aorta, which carries arterial blood to the head, muscles of the body and to all organs that need especially oxygen-rich blood. The left aortic arch passes into the celiac artery, which supplies blood to the intestines. At the intersection of two aortic arches, there is an anastomosis between them (panizzi foramen), through which, due to the difference in blood pressure in the arches, arterial blood flows from the right arch to the left. When a crocodile breathes atmospheric air, venous blood from the right ventricle apparently enters only the pulmonary artery. When diving, the crocodile in the vessels of the pulmonary circle increases the resistance to blood flow, as a result of which venous blood from the right ventricle begins to flow into the left aortic arch.

Lungs Crocodiles have a complex structure and are able to accommodate a large supply of air.

Bladder no, which is possibly related to life in the water. The cloaca has the form of a longitudinal slit, in the back of which the males have an unpaired genital organ, equipped with a deep longitudinal groove.

Modern crocodiles inhabit various fresh water bodies. Relatively few species are tolerant of brackish water and are found in river estuaries (African narrow-nosed crocodile, Nile crocodile, American sharp-snouted crocodile). Only the combed crocodile swims far into the open sea and has been observed at a distance of 600 km from the nearest shore.

Most of the day crocodiles spend in the water. They come out to the coastal shallows in the morning and in the late afternoon - to warm themselves in the sun. The most favorable body temperature for life in Mississippi alligators is 32-35 °; fatal for this type of temperature above 38 °. The lower threshold of activity is about 20°. On land, crocodiles often lie with their mouths wide open, which is apparently associated with thermoregulation: some heat transfer occurs when water evaporates from the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.

Crocodiles hunt at night. An essential component in the diet of all crocodiles is fish, but crocodiles devour any prey they can handle. Therefore, the set of feeds changes with age: various invertebrates serve as food for the young - insects, crustaceans, mollusks, worms; larger animals prey on fish, amphibians, reptiles and water birds. Adult crocodiles are able to cope with large mammals. There is a known case of finding the remains of a rhinoceros in the stomach of a Nile crocodile. In many species of crocodiles, cannibalism is noted - devouring larger individuals of smaller ones. Often crocodiles eat carrion; some species hide the uneaten remains of the victim under the overhanging shore and later devour them half-decomposed.

Crocodiles move in water with the help of their tail. On land, crocodiles are slow and clumsy, but sometimes they make significant transitions, moving several kilometers away from water bodies. When moving quickly, crocodiles put their legs under the body (usually they are widely spaced), which rises high above the ground. Young Nile crocodiles can run at a gallop at about 12 km per hour.

Crocodiles lay eggs the size of chicken or goose, covered with calcareous shells. The number of eggs in a clutch varies from 10 to 100 in different species. Some species bury their eggs in the sand, while others lay them in nests made by the female from rotting vegetation. The female remains close to the clutch, protecting it from enemies. Young crocodiles are still inside the eggs, by the time they hatch, they make croaking sounds, after which the mother digs up the masonry, helping the offspring to get out.

Crocodiles grow rapidly in the first 2-3 years of life, during which they reach a size of 1-1.5 m. With age, the growth rate decreases, and they add only a few centimeters in length per year.

Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 8-10 years. Crocodiles live up to 80 - 100 years.

Enemies in adult crocodiles are few, if we exclude humans. Cases of attacks by elephants and lions on crocodiles, making transitions by land from one reservoir to another, have been noted. In addition, many animals, especially monitor lizards, some turtles, birds (marabou), hyenas, eat the eggs of young crocodiles.

Crocodiles are dangerous to humans to varying degrees. Some never attack a person (small blunt-nosed crocodiles, fish-eating narrow-nosed crocodiles, etc.), others attack systematically (combed crocodile), others (Nile crocodile) are dangerous only in some areas.

People everywhere exterminate crocodiles, mainly for the sake of the skin. In the United States, the extermination of the Mississippi alligators has reached such proportions (up to 50,000 alligators are killed per year) that the government has taken special measures to protect these animals, as they are threatened with complete destruction. In some countries of Indochina, crocodile meat is used for food.

21 species of modern crocodiles are known (with subspecies number modern forms reaches 28), which are grouped into 3 families.

Animal life: in 6 volumes. - M.: Enlightenment. Edited by professors N.A. Gladkov, A.V. Mikheev. 1970 .

Crocodiles are semi-aquatic predators, belong to the order of aquatic vertebrates and are considered the largest individuals of the group of reptiles. There are more than twenty species in the order of crocodiles, among which are the caiman and the alligator. These cold-blooded animals live in tropical and subtropical latitudes, regardless of the continent: they can be seen in America, Africa (the largest is the Nile crocodile), Asia and Oceania (the largest crocodile in the world lives here - combed).

Crocodiles appeared more than 250 million years ago and are direct descendants of dinosaurs (a subclass of archosaurs).

True, their ancestors were larger: their length reached thirteen meters. one more interesting fact about crocodiles is that over the past millennia this species has changed little outwardly, and therefore, being closer to dinosaurs than to modern reptiles, its representatives are unique animals that give some idea of ​​what the ancient inhabitants of our planet looked like.

Crocodiles have a common land ancestor with birds. They are even, in some features of their internal structure, much closer to birds than to reptiles.

Description

Having adapted to water, crocodiles acquired and appropriate kind: their head is flat, with a very long muzzle, the torso is flattened, the legs are very short. The fingers are interconnected by swimming membranes (there are five of them on the front paws, four on the hind paws: the little finger is missing).

The eyes of the reptile are located on the head in such a way that only the eyes and nostrils are visible above the surface (this makes it possible for them to remain unnoticed by prey). When the animal goes under water, its nostrils and ears are closed with valves, and the eye has a third transparent eyelid, thanks to which the reptile sees perfectly underwater and does not experience any difficulties. Since the mouth of crocodiles, due to the lack of lips, does not completely close so that water does not enter the stomach, the entrance to the esophagus, when the animal is in the water, is blocked by a palatine curtain.

The elongated shape of the body makes it possible for the reptile to perfectly maneuver in aquatic environment, and the animal uses a flat and strong tail instead of a motor organ. The length of the reptile, depending on the species, ranges from one and a half to six and a half meters. The largest crocodile of the captured and measured reptiles belongs to the combed ones: its length is 6.4 meters, it weighs more than a ton and lives in the Philippine Islands.

But the most little crocodile lives in the west of equatorial Africa: the length of a land crocodile ranges from one and a half to two meters.

The greenish-brown color of the reptile helps it perfectly camouflage in the water. Depending on the temperature of the environment, the skin of a reptile is able to change color (the hotter, the greener it is). The skin of the crocodile is covered with strong rectangular horny plates that hold firmly throughout the life of the reptile: unlike many reptiles, crocodiles do not shed, and their skin grows with the body (they grow throughout their lives).

Reptile Temperature

Like all reptiles, crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, and their body temperature is between 30 and 35 degrees. Although the body temperature of these reptiles depends on water and air, it still differs from their performance. Unlike many freshwater, the crocodile has a four-chambered heart (however, when leaving the ventricles, oxygen-rich arterial blood partially mixes with venous blood, where there is little oxygen).

The horny plates on the skin of a crocodile heat up during the day and collect heat, which allows you to maintain a fairly high level of metabolism. Therefore, the temperature of the predator, regardless of the time of day, is almost always the same (in summer, its fluctuations are about 1 ° C, in winter - 1.5 ° C, in small animals - about 5 ° C).

They should also not be confused with warm-blooded representatives of the animal world, since their own metabolism maintains a constant body temperature, while crocodiles keep it due to their large size, large mass and specific behavior (bask in the sun, cool in water). Therefore, in larger specimens, fluctuations in body temperature are less than in small representatives.

Difference from an alligator

From their closest relatives, alligators, crocodiles are distinguished primarily by the structure of the teeth: when the mouth is closed, the fourth tooth is visible on the lower jaw, while the teeth of alligators are not visible at all. The structure of the muzzle is also different: in alligators it is more blunt, in crocodiles it is sharp.

Crocodiles have a better salt metabolism: they remove excess salts through the glands located on the tongue, as well as through the lacrimal glands (the famous "crocodile tears"). Thanks to this, they are able to live not only in the river, but also in sea ​​water, while alligators - only in fresh water. Among crocodiles, there are species that live both there and there, for example, despite the fact that the Nile crocodile prefers to live in rivers and lakes, it is also often found near the sea coast, in river mouths.

Way of life

Crocodiles prefer to live mainly in fresh water, and some species: the Nile crocodile, combed, African narrow-nosed are found off the coast of the seas. These animals spend all their time in the water, they come out on land in the morning or in the evening to bask in the sun and accumulate heat in the horny plates. For example, the Nile crocodile prefers air temperatures from 32 to 35 ° C, if the figures are higher, it is not even shown on land. Some species of crocodiles during a drought pull out holes at the bottom of drying reservoirs and fall into hibernation.

On land, these animals are inactive and clumsy, so they prefer to move exclusively in the water. If necessary, they are able to move to another body of water through land, having overcome several kilometers.

Interestingly, they usually move with their legs wide apart, then developing speed (no more than 11 km / h for short distances), the reptiles put their paws under the body. But in the water, reptiles swim much faster, at a speed of about 40 km / h. Despite their impressive size, they are quite capable of jumping two meters out of the water.

Crocodiles live in packs, and this life is peculiar: they are quite capable of eating their relative, and males often destroy babies. Each group has a dominant male, who jealously guards his territory from the same large individuals as he is, making a loud roar. These reptiles can express their emotions different ways: they hiss, grunt, growl and even croak hoarsely.

Hunting and food

Despite the fact that crocodiles prefer to hunt at night, during the day, if the prey is not far from them, they do not leave it unattended. They receive information about a potential victim thanks to receptors located on the jaws, which are able to sense prey even at a great distance.

They feed mainly on fish, but if they come across other prey that they can handle, they also hunt it. How dangerous they are to humans depends on the species. For example, the Nile crocodile is a cannibal, but the gharial (also large) is absolutely not dangerous.

The food preferences of a crocodile largely depend on its age and size: young individuals prefer invertebrates, adults prefer amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, and birds.

But large individuals (the same Nile crocodile) are able to cope even with victims that are much larger than them: the Nile crocodile catches wildebeest when they cross rivers during migration, the combed predator during the rainy season opens the hunt for large cattle, Madagascar manages to catch a lemur, and in search of water, he crawls into caves (in a drought it can only be found here). If necessary, these animals are able to eat their relative.

These reptiles cannot chew, and therefore, having caught the victim, they dismember it with their teeth and swallow it in parts. If the food is too large for this, they may leave it at the bottom for a while and wait until it gets wet. With food, the animal is helped to cope with the stones swallowed by it, which grind the food. These stones are often quite large: it is known for sure that the Nile crocodile is able to swallow a five-kilogram block.

Crocodiles eat carrion very rarely, and they do not tolerate rotten food at all. Reptiles eat a lot: at a time they are able to swallow food weighing about 25% of their body weight. Since 60% of food is deposited in fat, if necessary, they are able to starve from one to one and a half years.

reproduction

Considering that crocodiles live from 50 to 110 years, they reach sexual maturity quite early: at the age of 8 to 10 years. Crocodiles are polygamous animals: a male may well have a harem consisting of twelve females.

The female does not give birth, but lays eggs (about fifty pieces per night). To do this, she goes to the coast and digs a hole, the size of which largely depends on the illumination: in the sun - deeper, in the shade - smaller, after it it fills them with sand or leaves. So that babies hatch from eggs, it takes about three months. All this time the female spends near them, without going anywhere and not even eating.

Who exactly hatches depends largely on the temperature of the air: if they exceed 32 ° C, a male will appear, from 28 to 30 ° C - a female. Before breaking the shell, then one or the other small crocodile begins to make grunting sounds. For the female, this is a signal, and she first digs them out, then rolling in her mouth, frees the babies.

The crocodiles that were born are small: their length is only 28 centimeters. At a time, the mother collects about two dozen babies in her mouth and transfers them to a pre-looked after pond of small size, where they spend about eight weeks, after which they disperse around the neighborhood in search of reservoirs unoccupied by other crocodiles. Because of this, mortality among crocodiles is very high: many are eaten by birds, monitor lizards and other predators. Those that survived, as they grow older, first feed on insects, then they begin to catch frogs and fish from reservoirs, and from the age of ten they open the hunt for large vertebrates.

Reptiles and people

Speaking about crocodiles, it is better for a person to take into account that he should avoid meeting with these animals: almost all of them are dangerous for humans. True, there are species that never attack people (gharial), while others do so at every opportunity (combed).

Hunting for crocodiles in their habitats is also popular: their meat is eaten, and textiles and haberdashery are made from their skin. As soon as crocodile skin products became popular in fashion, the number of animals began to decline very quickly: hunting for crocodiles did its job.

According to the data, in the 20s of the last century, about a million reptiles were killed annually in South America alone, so if governments had not come to their senses in time and in the forties had not passed laws according to which hunting for crocodiles was prohibited, they would have been destroyed long ago. Also, the largest crocodile in Africa, the Nile crocodile, disappeared from its usual habitats, and captive breeding saved the Indian gharial from complete extinction (today there are about 1.5 thousand individuals).

Another factor that puts these reptiles on the brink of extinction in South America and Asia is the construction of dams. For their construction, huge areas of forests were cut down, as a result of which many reservoirs where crocodiles lived dried up.

This situation is alarming not only because a unique species is dying out, but also because the ecosystem of the region is being disturbed with the disappearance of these animals. For example, in Florida, crocodiles prey on pike, which, without a natural enemy, would destroy all valuable fish, primarily bream and perch. These reptiles make it possible for many animals to survive the drought: water accumulates in the holes dug by them, forming small reservoirs, where during the drought the fish finds refuge, and animals and birds come to drink.

Crocodiles are carnivorous reptiles. To learn all about crocodiles, their lifestyle and behavior in wild nature We invite you to read our fascinating article.

Crocodiles, according to scientific classification, are a detachment of semi-aquatic reptiles that live on our planet. There are 23 species of crocodiles in total.

These reptiles are the only ones among other representatives of their class that have the most resemblance to their ancestors - dinosaurs. The order of crocodiles consists of three families: Gavial, Crocodile and Alligator. Real crocodiles differ from the shape of the muzzle: in the latter, it has a wide and blunt end (and in representatives of the crocodile family, it is narrowed).

In size, crocodiles are not small reptiles. The length of their body starts from 1.5 meters and ends with 10 meters! The body of the crocodile has an elongated shape, it is slightly flattened. The limbs of these reptiles are short, they are located "sideways", and not under the body. All crocodile feet are equipped with swimming membranes.

The tail of these reptiles is very long and has a thickened shape. This part of the animal's body has several functions: taxiing when moving in water, a "motor" for moving through the water, and thermoregulation of the body. In crocodiles, the nostrils and eyes are located one level above the entire head and torso. This structure makes these reptiles sudden and successful hunters. Let's explain why: a crocodile can completely submerge itself in water, leaving only its eyes and nostrils on the surface (to observe the victim and breathe), and wait for hours for a tidbit, which, approaching the reservoir, does not even suspect that this will be its last sip of water...

In crocodiles, scientists have discovered one amazing feature. Everyone knows that crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, however ... they can heat their cold blood by muscle tension. From such "physical education" the body temperature of crocodiles can exceed the ambient temperature by 5 - 7 degrees.

The whole body of these animals is covered with a thick layer of skin. Unlike scaly reptiles, the "skin" of a crocodile is formed by scutes. Their shape and size are different parts bodies are unique and have their own, intricate pattern. And this is what made crocodiles such a desirable prey for people. The ubiquitous fashion designers and designers have turned crocodile skin into a luxury item. And now glamorous ladies around the world are chasing a handbag or strap (or even shoes) made of crocodile skin, forcing poachers to more and more exterminate the population of crocodiles on Earth.

Where do crocodiles live?

These animals are very fond of warmth. Therefore, their range is tropical and subtropical zones. Crocodiles prefer to live in slow rivers and small lakes. However, there are representatives of the order that inhabit the salty sea waters - this.

In terms of lifestyle, crocodiles are rather slow, however, they can, if necessary, make sharp jerks, run and! These reptiles are very dangerous, it is better not to try to face a crocodile face to face.

What does a crocodile eat?

In terms of nutrition, all crocodiles are predators, to one degree or another. Depending on their size, some of them feed only on fish (for example, narrow-nosed crocodile), others prey on large ungulates and giant snakes. Some of these reptiles have even attacked elephants!

In addition, molluscs, birds, small mammals, and even insects can be present in the diet of crocodiles.

Reproduction of crocodiles

During the mating season, male crocodiles arrange real bloody and fierce battles for the possession of a female. Crocodiles are egg-laying reptiles according to the way they reproduce. At one time, the female can create a clutch of 20 - 100 eggs. Incubation lasts 2 to 3 months.

The crocodile is the largest predator of the class of reptiles, ideally adapted to life in the water.

The appearance of this monster on powerful short legs, its huge mouth, studded with sharp teeth and a powerful tail capable of killing any large animal with a blow, has always terrified people.

According to scientists, the crocodile is one of the few surviving descendants of prehistoric archosaurs, the closest relatives of animal lizards and dinosaurs.

Description of crocodiles

Crocodiles - huge, several meters in size, possessing incredible strength and very bloodthirsty reptiles appeared on our earth at the same time as dinosaurs. They are direct descendants of the ancient archosaurs that lived back in mesozoic era. The appearance of the crocodile, its way of life, way of obtaining food and habits still reminds of this family connection.

The body, tail and legs are covered with bumpy hard skin, which has turned into ossified plates, somewhat reminiscent of sea coastal pebbles, from which its name came. Krokodilos, which is translated from Greek, literally means "pebble worm." Although the worm is not at all ordinary, but simply incredibly huge. The sizes of crocodiles, depending on the species, range from 2 to 6 meters, and their weight reaches almost a ton. There are also larger individuals, so combed crocodiles can reach a weight of 2000 kg. Females are usually almost half the size of males.

According to the existing classification, there are real crocodiles, alligators and gharials. General structure of all species is quite similar and maximally adapted to living in the aquatic environment: a flattened body, a flat head with a long snout, a long tail compressed from the sides and short legs. On the front paws, 5 fingers, on the hind legs, 4, connected by membranes. Eyes with vertical pupils, nostrils are located on the upper surface of the head, which allows the crocodile, completely immersed in water, to breathe freely and see everything in the area. They have a very developed night vision, ear openings and nostrils can be closed with skin folds.

These reptiles have an original respiratory system. They have large lungs that hold a lot of air, allowing them to long time hold breath. Special muscles around the lungs can move the air in the lungs relative to the center of gravity, thereby regulating buoyancy. The connective tissue diaphragm can displace the internal organs in the longitudinal direction, which changes the center of gravity of the body, providing the desired position of the body afloat and under water. In addition, the nasopharynx is separated from the oral cavity by a secondary bony palate, thanks to which the crocodile can keep its mouth open under water, while at the same time continuing to breathe with its nostrils that are on the surface of the water, and the palatine curtain and a special valve do not let water into the windpipe.

The crocodile has a peculiar circulatory system. The heart is four-chambered with two atria and two ventricles separated by a septum. But a special structure, if necessary, provides in the aorta, leading to the digestive system, the replacement of arterial blood with venous blood, saturated with carbon dioxide, which enhances the production of gastric juice and speeds up the digestive process. Therefore, a crocodile can swallow food in huge pieces or even whole, it will still be digested. His blood contains strong antibiotics that prevent infection even in very dirty water. In addition, hemoglobin in the blood of a crocodile carries several times more oxygen than that of land animals and humans, so crocodiles are able to hold their breath and, without surfacing, are under water for up to 2 hours.

The digestive system of crocodiles also has its own characteristics. So their teeth are constantly updated every two years, so they are not afraid of losing a tooth, a new one will still grow. The tooth is hollow inside and a replacement grows in this cavity, as the tooth wears out or breaks, there is already a ready one to replace it. The stomach is large and thick-walled, inside there are gastrolith stones, with which the crocodile grinds food. The small intestine is short, passing into the large intestine with access to the cloaca. There is no bladder at all, probably due to life in the water.

Crocodiles and alligators are different from each other. Outwardly, this can be seen in the structure of the jaws. The real crocodile has a sharper snout, and when the mouth is closed, the fourth tooth of the lower jaw protrudes outward. The alligator has a blunt muzzle, and when the jaws are closed, the teeth are not visible. In addition, a real crocodile has special lingual salt glands in its tongue, and lacrimal glands near the eyes, which remove excess salt from the crocodile's body. This is manifested by the so-called crocodile tears, due to which, a real crocodile is able to live in salty sea water, and an alligator only in fresh water.

Almost all crocodiles, except for the fish-eating Ghanaian gharial, eat animal food, or rather, everything that lives in the water and in the coastal zone. With age, their diet changes somewhat, but this is due rather to their growth, increase in size and, of course, the need for more food. So young individuals prey mainly on fish and small invertebrates and amphibians. Adults catch larger fish, water snakes, turtles, crabs. Often monkeys, hares, kangaroos, porcupines, raccoons, martens, mongooses, in short, all animals that go to the watering place, including domestic ones, become their prey. Some of them become cannibals, that is, they eat each other. Large species, such as the Nile, combed, marsh and some others, are quite capable of dealing with a victim that is larger than himself. So Nile crocodiles often attack antelopes, buffaloes, hippos, and even elephants. They eat a lot, at one time an adult crocodile is able to absorb food equal to a quarter of its weight. Sometimes part of the prey is hidden, although it rarely remains intact, usually it is taken away by other predators.

Crocodiles have a peculiar hunting tactic. The crocodile, completely immersed in the water, leaving only the eyes and nostrils on the surface, quietly swims up to the animal drinking water, then grabs the victim with a swift throw and pulls the water where it drowns. If the victim strongly resists, then he, rotating around his axis, tears it apart. Crocodiles cannot chew food, they simply tear their prey into pieces and swallow it, they swallow small animals whole.

Another feature of crocodiles is that the cartilage in the bones of its skeleton is constantly growing and as a result, the crocodile itself grows all its life, increasing in size over the years. By the size of the crocodile, you can determine its age. And given that some species of crocodiles live up to 70-80 years or more, it is not surprising that there are incredibly huge individuals of these reptiles. In addition, crocodiles do not shed throughout their lives, their scaly skin grows with them, and over the years it stiffens and becomes incredibly strong. Hardened rectangular plates on the skin, arranged in regular rows, eventually turn into a real impenetrable shell. It is because of this durable skin that crocodiles have become the subject of hunting for people who have been using it for their needs for a long time. From time immemorial, people have made shoes, bags, belts, suitcases and other durable items from crocodile skin. Therefore, many species of crocodiles that lived on earth a couple of hundred years ago disappeared altogether. Now all over the world there are 23 species of these reptiles.

Crocodile skin color depends on the habitat. Usually it is a protective dirty brown, gray, and sometimes almost black color. Quite rarely, albinos come across completely white. In the wild, such individuals usually do not survive.

Like all cold-blooded animals, in crocodiles, body temperature depends on the temperature of the external environment and therefore they live only in regions with tropical climate. Crocodiles are common in Africa, in Australia and Oceania, in the countries of Indochina, in North and South America. Most species of crocodiles prefer fresh water, but such as combed and sharp-snouted crocodiles are also adapted to sea salt water. For most species of crocodiles, the most favorable temperature is between 32-35 ° C. Temperatures below 20 and above 38 ° C are extremely uncomfortable for them. You can often see how a crocodile opens its mouth wide for a long time. This is done so that water evaporates from the mouth, cooling the body. At such moments, small birds sit in his mouth and peck at the stuck pieces of food, thus cleaning his teeth. Crocodiles do not touch such birds, and as a result, both benefit.

For thermoregulation, these reptiles have special osteoderms under the horny shell plates that can accumulate solar heat, due to which their body temperature fluctuations during the day usually do not exceed 1-2 degrees. However, with the onset of cold weather or drought, many hibernate. They tear holes in the silt at the bottom of drying up reservoirs, similar to cracks and lie in them, often several individuals together, until a comfortable temperature sets in. Although it has recently been revealed that some species of crocodiles, by tensing the muscles of the body, can themselves warm up the blood, thereby raising the body temperature by 5-7 degrees above the ambient temperature.

Lifestyle

The way of life of crocodiles is peculiar. They spend most of their time in the water. They come ashore when chasing prey or to bask in the sun. The main mover in the water of a crocodile is the tail. Acting with its tail like a huge oar, a crocodile can reach speeds of up to 30-35 km / h in water. The tail also acts as a rudder, so a crocodile can change direction sharply afloat and under water. On land, these reptiles are slow and rather clumsy, but when attacked, they make very fast lunges. In the usual position, the crocodile's legs are widely spaced, but when running, it takes them out under the body and can, moving to a gallop, overcome short distances at speeds up to 18 km / h.

According to scientists, the ancestors of crocodiles mainly lived on land and only climbed into the water when necessary. Therefore, they retained the ability to breed on land. Spending most of their lives in the water, they lay their eggs on land. They have the ability to reproduce at 8-10 years of age. At this time, their length reaches about 2.5 meters in males, and up to 1.7 meters in females. The breeding season for southern species is winter, northern crocodiles lay their eggs in autumn.

Crocodiles communicate with each other in a voice similar to either a dog barking or a roar. With the onset of the mating season, the habitats of crocodiles are announced by their heart-rending roar, which means scaring away rivals and calling females. Usually during breeding, males show wild aggression among themselves, arranging fights not for life, but for death. To attract females, males, in addition to screaming, make noise by splashing their muzzles against the water. Having dealt with rivals, the couple retires and spends time together. The female builds a nest on the shallows near the water. To do this, she tears a hole up to half a meter deep, covers it with foliage, branches, mud or sand, and lays from two to eight dozen eggs. When the clutch is ready, the female closes the nest with the same materials. In places with lush vegetation, nests are made entirely of branches and leaves, smearing them with mud to keep warm.

Both parents take care of the safety of the masonry while being nearby and protecting their future offspring from the encroachment of uninvited guests. And still, no more than 20% of eggs remain in the clutch, because the nests of crocodiles are destroyed by other predators or people at the time when the parents leave.

Three months later, small crocodiles hatch from the eggs. At the same time, they squeak quite loudly, attracting the attention of the mother, who, having heard these sounds, digs up the nest. If one of the crocodiles does not manage to break the egg shell, the female helps them, gently crushing the eggs with her tongue and palate, helping the cubs to get out. These reptiles have another property inaccessible to other animals, which is that the sex of the future crocodile can be determined by the method of thermoregulation. If incubation takes place at a temperature of 32-33 ° C, approximately the same number of males and females are born. If the temperature is higher, there will be more males; if it is lower, then there will be more females.

The cubs are quite small, the largest in the Nile crocodile are about 30 cm long. The babies themselves cannot get to the water from the nest, and therefore the mother picks them up several pieces in her mouth and transfers them to the water, where they can immediately swim. At first they grow very quickly. They feed on everything they can grasp: molluscs, worms, bugs, blades of grass, fish fry and frog tadpoles. The crocodile takes care of her cubs for up to two years. During this time, there are very few of them, but those that survived grow up to one meter in length and can already manage on their own.

For humans, crocodiles are dangerous to varying degrees. Some, such as the gharial, never attack humans, others, like the combed and Nile crocodiles, will never refuse to attack if the opportunity presents itself. Well, such as a black caiman or a sharp-snouted crocodile attack quite rarely, mainly if the person himself provokes them or they are very hungry.

Among many tribes of Africa, Indochina and Australia, crocodiles have been revered animals from time immemorial. And in the ancient cultures of these peoples, the crocodile was even considered a sacred animal. The ancient Egyptians considered the god Sebek, who was depicted as a man with a crocodile head, the patron of fishermen, who was subject to the floods of the Nile, main river Egypt. Sebek, as the personification of strength and dexterity, was especially revered by hunters. Even the pharaohs turned to Sebek for a blessing for good luck before battles with enemies. They believed that Sebek was the messenger of the god Ra, who arose from a stone.

Pharaoh Amenemhet III built the whole city of Shedit on the site of the current Kiman Faris, which the ancient Greeks called Crocodilopolis, in which a temple was erected in honor of the crocodile god Sebek, and a huge labyrinth of 3000 rooms in which, according to the description of Herodotus, the priests kept the sacred crocodile decorated gold and diamonds as the earthly incarnation of Sebek.

How long this lasted is not known, but judging by the fact that after the death of these sacred crocodiles, like priests and pharaohs, they were mummified, and only in Kom el Breigat there is a cemetery where almost two thousand crocodile mummies were found, they were deified for more than one thousand years. Moreover, nearby are the remains of the pyramid of Amenemhat III himself.

Currently in natural environment only a few survive to a respectable age, and not because they have some kind of sores, but because they are caught, killed and transferred to skin and meat. In many national cuisines Crocodile meat is considered a delicacy. In addition, due to the high demand for leather, there have been farms for their breeding for several decades in many countries. Crocodiles breed well in captivity, but they are not kept there for a long time, one and a half to two meters is enough to get a solid benefit.

As we have already mentioned, about two dozen different crocodiles now live on earth. Here are the main most common types.

Varieties

combed crocodile, in Latin Crocodylus porosus - the largest of all existing. In another way called: sea, salt, Indo-Pacific, saltwater and even a cannibal crocodile. In length, this monster can be up to 7 meters or more, and weigh up to 2 tons. On its snout from the edge of the eyes are 2 bony ridge-like protrusions, because of which it got its name. Usually the combed crocodile is brownish in color with dark spots and stripes on the body and tail. It lives in sea lagoons and in the mouths of rivers flowing into the ocean, along the coasts of India, Indochina, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines. Often found in the open sea far from the coast. It feeds on any prey that it manages to catch. In the water, these are fish, turtles, dolphins, sharks, rays and other aquatic inhabitants. On land, these are animals that go to the watering place: antelopes, buffaloes, wild boars, kangaroos, bears, monkeys and domestic sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, cows, horses and of course waterfowl. He will not miss the moment to attack a person who is in his reach.

Nile crocodile or Crocodylus niloticus in Latin - the second largest after the ridged one. On average, these African crocodiles are 4.5 to 5.5 meters long and weigh about 1 ton. Their coloration is mostly gray or light brown, with dark stripes on the back and tail. This is the most ferocious of all species, not considered with any other animals, even much larger than it. This beast alone is not afraid to attack a buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, giraffe, lion or even an elephant, which almost always comes out victorious.

swamp crocodile- Crocodylus palustris, also known as Indian or Mager. The swamp crocodile is also very large, it can be up to 5 meters long and weigh an average of about 500 kg. The color is dark green, marsh color. With its wide muzzle, it looks like an alligator. Mager in Hindi means "water monster", although Indian fishermen call him a robber, because these crocodiles steal fish, and, if possible, attack the fishermen themselves. It lives in India and adjacent countries along the banks of rivers and lakes, and in swampy jungles. In times of drought, magers burrow into the swamp mud and hibernate until the start of the monsoon season. On the island of Ceylon lives a variety of this crocodile, which is called "kimbula". The Ceylon crocodile can live in salt water and prefers lagoons along ocean shores. Very aggressive and quite often attacks people.

American sharp-snouted crocodile(Crocodylus acutus) is the most common of all species. This name was given because of the shape of the narrow, pointed shape of the muzzle. It grows up to 5 m in length and weighs up to 1000 kg. The color is usually green-brown or grey. Lives in rivers, lakes and swamps of Central America, in the southern United States and in the northern part South America. It feeds mainly on fish, waterfowl and turtles. When there is not enough food, it attacks livestock. Attacks on humans are very rare.

African narrow-nosed crocodile- Crocodylus cataphractus is quite large in size, living in swamps and tropical rivers of Western and Central Africa. The usual length is about 2.5 meters, but there are also up to 4 meters. It got its name because of its narrow muzzle. Unlike other crocodiles, the hard plates on his neck are arranged in 3-4 rows, and on his back they merge with scales, for which he is called a shelled crocodile. Feeds on fish and small aquatic life. Nests are built from plants on the shore near the water. We lay few eggs, no more than two dozen, the incubation period is longer than in other species, often almost 4 months. The population of African narrow-nosed crocodiles is falling due to uncontrolled hunting for them. It is believed that there are no more than 50,000 of them left.

Orinoco crocodile- in Latin Crocodylus intermedius - one of the rarest species. It looks like the American sharp-nosed both externally and in size, the length reaches up to 5.2 m. The color is light green and gray with dark spots. The muzzle is long like that of an African narrow-nosed. It feeds mainly on fish and small animals. In a drought, when the water in the rivers decreases, it hides in holes on the banks of the rivers and hibernates. For a long time it was one of the most harvested crocodiles in South America, as a result of which almost all of them were exterminated. Now there are less than 1,500 left. It lives mainly in Venezuela and Colombia and on nearby islands.

Australian narrow-nosed crocodile- Crocodylus johnstoni, another name for Johnston's crocodile. It is not very large in size, but 3 meters in length and weighing up to 100 kg is also impressive, especially since it reaches such dimensions around the age of 25. This crocodile has strong legs with large claws and a narrow, pointed snout, from which it takes its name. The color is mostly light brown, dark stripes appear on the body and tail. It feeds mainly on fish, but also does not refuse amphibians and small land animals. It lives in the west and north of Australia in rivers, lakes, swamps with fresh water, which is why it is sometimes called a freshwater crocodile.

Philippine or Mindorek crocodile- Crocodylus mindorensis got its name from its habitat, these are the Philippine Islands and in particular the islands of Mindoro, Negros, Samar, Buzuanga, Jolo, Luzon. The crocodile is relatively small in size, no more than 3 meters in length. The muzzle is quite wide, somewhat similar to the New Guinean. The color is gray with transverse darker stripes on the body and tail. It lives in fresh water bodies: in lakes, ponds, lakes, swamps. Sometimes he changes his place of residence and goes to the coast of the ocean. It is usually active at night, resting in secluded places during the day. It feeds on fish, small invertebrates, waterfowl and small animals that come to drink. It is considered a rare species, only a few hundred remain in nature and since 1992 it has been listed in the Red Book.

Central American crocodile, Morele's crocodile, in Latin Crocodylus moreletii. The name itself speaks of its habitats, it is common in the countries of Central America: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize. Relatively not large view, the maximum length is about 3 meters. The color is gray, sometimes gray-brown, dark stripes on the body and tail, the belly is lighter. The difference from other species is that its skin has fewer keratinized plates, they are located mainly on the top of the neck, the stomach does not have such protection at all, which is why it is called the soft-bellied crocodile. The population is limited, only a few thousand remain in nature.

new guinea crocodile or Crocodylus novaeguineae, rather rare view, currently lives only on the islands of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. This is a medium-sized crocodile, the maximum length is about 3.5, females up to 2.7 meters. Somewhat similar to the Siamese counterpart. The muzzle is narrow, slightly elongated. The color is gray with darker stripes on the body and on the tail. Lives only in fresh water prefers swampy areas. This is a typical nocturnal predator, activated at dusk. The food is mainly fish, birds, small animals and crustaceans and everything that can overpower. During the day he sleeps in secluded places. The skin of this species is not in great demand, therefore the population is stable within 100,000 individuals, although it is listed in the Red Book.

Cuban crocodile— Crocodylus rhombifer, medium and small in size. The usual length is up to 2.5 meters in length and weight is about 40 kg. There are also up to 3.5 meters in length and weighing up to 200 kg. In 1880, a specimen 5.3 meters long was caught. AT vivo lives in Cuba in the swamps of the protected area of ​​the Zapata Peninsula and on the island of Isla de la Juventud. Although it is a relatively small crocodile, it is considered the most aggressive of all species. It has great agility and a huge bite force that reaches 2 thousand kilograms. It feeds on everything that it can catch and overpower. It attacks people very rarely, but it constantly hunts domestic animals, because, although it is a semi-aquatic animal, it spends a lot of time on land. Another feature of this crocodile is the ability to jump high out of the water. It often happens that Cuban crocodiles jumping out of the water grabbed small animals or birds from the branches of trees.

Siamese crocodile- Crocodylus siamensis, a medium-sized species. The usual length is 3 meters, maximum 4 meters. The weight of males is up to 350 kg, and females are not more than 150 kg. However, they sometimes interbreed with combed crocodiles and then the sizes of these hybrids are much larger. Siamese crocodiles are a bit like saltwater crocodiles, especially when young. Their color is green-olive, there are also dark green. They feed on fish, mollusks, reptiles, small animals and birds. The habitat of the country of Indochina: Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, is found in Malaysia. Siamese crocodiles are an endangered species, listed in the Red Book. Now there are no more than 5 thousand of them, taking into account the fact that in Cambodia they are bred in nurseries.

African pygmy crocodile- Osteolaemus tetraspis, another name for the blunt-nosed crocodile, the smallest of all living on earth. It is only 1.5 meters long. It lives in Central and West Africa, in tropical swamps and rivers. It feeds on fish, frogs, small reptiles, snails and even insects or carrion. This crocodile, due to its small size, is often attacked by other predators, but it, in comparison with other species, good protection from ossified plates on the sides, on the neck and on the tail. Due to the inaccessibility of the regions where this species of crocodiles is, it has been little studied. But, as far as we know, he is constantly hunted, as his skin and meat are in great demand. Although according to latest information The extinction of the African dwarf is not threatened.

Mississippi alligator- lat. Alligator mississippiensis or American alligator, is a large species of reptile from a separate family of alligators. It reaches a size of up to 4.5 m in length and a body weight of up to 400 kg. It differs from a crocodile in that it can only live in fresh water and easily tolerates cold. It lives in rivers, lakes and ponds of North America, mainly in the southern United States. It feeds on fish, turtles, reptiles, birds and small animals that live near water or come to drink: nutria, raccoons, muskrats, etc. Rarely attacks large animals and humans. For many years, Mississippian alligators have been bred on special farms for skin and meat. Among this species, white albinos are often found.

Chinese alligator- Alligator sinensis is much smaller than its American counterpart. The maximum length of these reptiles is 2 and a few meters, females up to one and a half meters. It feeds on fish, mollusks, snakes, small animals, birds. The only place where this species lives is the Yangtze River basin in China. This is a rare species, almost completely exterminated by man. Under natural conditions, there are several hundred individuals. Recently, Chinese alligators have begun to be bred on special farms for commercial purposes for skins and meat. These reptiles are the calmest of all types of crocodiles, they can attack a person only for defense purposes.

black caiman or Melanosuchus niger is one of the largest crocodile. The body size of a male can reach 5.5 m, and weight 500 kg. and more. Like all caimans, there are bony protrusions on the head behind the eyes that distinguish them from real crocodiles. It lives in lakes and rivers of South America. It feeds mainly on large animals that come to the watering place: deer, monkeys, armadillos, otters, livestock, etc. He does not refuse fish, including the famous piranha, which he is not afraid of, thanks to a strong shell of ossified scales. It leads a nocturnal lifestyle, since it has well-developed night vision, and the dark color is a good disguise. Rare cases of attacks on people have been recorded.

Crocodile caiman, in Latin Caiman crocodilus or spectacled caiman - relatively small in size. The usual body length is up to 2 m and weight is about 60 kg. It has a narrow muzzle and a specific bony outgrowth between the eyes resembling glasses. It lives in any reservoirs of Central America, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guyana Dominican Republic, Guatemala and the Bahamas. It feeds mainly on fish, crabs and shellfish. Sometimes it attacks wild boars, other caimans and even an anaconda. Although quite often they themselves become a victim of larger predators: black caimans, jaguars and large anacondas. The most common type of large population.

broad-faced caiman in Latin, Caiman latirostris is medium in size, usually a little over 2 meters, olive green in color and with a widened jaw, for which it got its name. It lives in rivers and mangrove swamps on the Atlantic coast of many countries of South America, in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia. Often found in ponds near human habitation. It feeds mainly on fish, snails, and molluscs. Adult caimans catch turtles and capybaras.

The skin of the broad-faced caiman is in great demand, therefore, as a result of poaching in the last century, they were exterminated. a large number of. However, due to the inaccessibility of its habitats, the population has survived, it is believed that now in nature there are from 250,000 to 500,000 individuals of this species.

Paraguayan caiman- Caiman yacare, Yacar or piranha caiman. It received so many names for a reason, this is the most common type of caiman and crocodiles in general. It lives everywhere in swampy places, rivers and lakes in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia. Relatively small, only 2 meters long, the Yakar caiman is very voracious, eating a lot of fish, snails, aquatic invertebrates, and when they come across, snakes. Will not refuse gaping birds or small animals. It was called Piranha due to the special structure of its teeth; its long lower teeth protrude above the upper jaw, sometimes forming holes in it. It is quite aggressive, but it attacks a person very rarely, and then if it is provoked.

Cuvier's pygmy smooth-fronted caiman- Paleosuchus palpebrosus, one of the smallest crocodiles. The length of the male is no more than two, and the females are one and a half meters. Weight maximum 20 kg. The peculiar shape of the head with smooth superciliary arches distinguishes it from a number of brothers. However, this gives it an advantage in digging the burrows it inhabits. In addition, the streamlined shape of the skull makes it easier for him to move in the water of rivers and streams with fast current, when chasing prey: fish, crabs, shrimps and other aquatic inhabitants of the rivers of South America. If possible, it hunts small land animals, and avoids humans.

Schneider's smooth-fronted caiman or caiman with a triangular head - Paleosuchus trigonatus. The closest relative of Cuvier's pygmy caiman. It lives in the same areas as Cuvier's smooth-faced caiman. Outwardly, Cuvier differs from the caiman in the shape of the head, it has the shape of a triangle, and the muzzle is longer. The average size of males is from 1.5 to 1.7 meters, and the weight is about 15 kg, females are even smaller. Nutrition, reproduction and lifestyle are the same for them.

Gavial or Gavialis gangeticus is the only representative of the gavial family from the order of crocodiles. The same reptile as a real crocodile, but with some differences. The gharial leads mainly an aquatic lifestyle, rarely on land, more often only for laying eggs. This is a very large species, growing up to 6 meters in length. Usually the gharial is green-brown in color, the belly is somewhat lighter. It is distinguished from crocodiles by a narrow long muzzle, somewhat similar to a beak. prehistoric predator. Its long jaws studded with teeth are the best suited for catching fish, which is the main diet of the gharial, although it does not refuse other marine life. Large gharials sometimes attack small coastal animals. Habitat of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar. It is believed that they were completely exterminated in Bhutan. Now the gharial is considered a rare animal and is listed in the Red Book.

gharial crocodile, in Latin Tomistoma schlegelii, the closest and only relative of the gharial. In scientific circles, it is also called pseudo-gharial, or false gharial. He is very similar to the gavial. It has the same elongated muzzle with narrow, toothy jaws, slightly shorter than the real gharial. They are also slightly smaller in size and darker in color. Black stripes are visible on the body and on the tail. And in terms of lifestyle, they are more land-based, more often spend time on land. Therefore, their diet is wider. In addition to fish, they are happy to catch and devour monkeys, pigs, monitor lizards, otters and larger ones, such as antelopes and deer. They do not disdain turtles and snakes. In short, they behave like real crocodiles. It lives in Indonesia, Malaysia, on the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Borneo. They used to be found in Vietnam and Thailand, but have not been seen there since 1970. Attacks on humans are very rare. Due to the narrow muzzle, the false gharial is considered not dangerous to humans, but there are confirmed facts of attacks on humans in 2009 and 2012. Most likely, this was the result of disturbance of their habitats and a decrease in their usual prey.

No matter how bloodthirsty a crocodile is, in the imagination of most of our compatriots who have not encountered them in their natural environment, this is a completely normal animal. Well, a predator, what of that. You never know in the world of predators, and the wolf and the bear, and the same hunting dog will not refuse to taste the freshness of a caught hare or partridge. In addition, the crocodile is often a character in books and movies. So the hero of Paul Hogan in the film directed by Peter Fayman “Dundee, nicknamed“ Crocodile ”, which received the Golden Globe Award, generally fascinated the audience, showing how close people were to crocodiles with their passions and greed.

But thanks to some Russian writers and directors, children identify the crocodile with the quite friendly and fair characters of the Familiar Crocodile from Moidodyr or Crocodile Gena. Well, so be it, but to explain to the children that in fact it is better not to approach this toothy green log.