Hobbies And Interests
Hunting
Crocodiles hunt their food. Their most common tactic for catching their meals is to ambush their prey -- fish or land mammals -- by waiting for the prey to approach their hiding place, then quickly attacking them. Crocodiles can attack very quickly when attempting to catch their prey. There have been cases, in fact, where crocodiles have attacked and killed sharks in the water.
Speed
The speed of different species of crocodile varies; however, most crocodiles can run up to about 7 miles per hour by doing a "belly run." This occurs when the crocodile shifts back and forth while running, much like the slithering of a snake. The fastest recorded crocodile was the galloping Australian freshwater crocodile, which was recorded at 11 miles per hour.
Reproduction
Crocodiles are reptiles, so they lay eggs. Crocodile eggs are laid in a nest, somewhat like a bird. These nests are usually made in the sand, such as along a beach. When laying eggs, crocodiles produce about 30 eggs at a time, and the incubation period for them is approximately 80 days. The sex of the egg is determined by temperature; it takes a specific temperature, about 89 degrees F, to produce a male. Higher or lower temperatures produce female crocodiles.
Lifespan
Crocodiles can live to be quite old. In many cases, crocodiles live to be between 50 and 60 years old, and sometimes even longer. The oldest recorded crocodile died in 1997, in a Russian zoo. While the exact age of the crocodile was not known, it was over 100 years old. The approximate age of a crocodile can be determined by its teeth which, like a tree, develop rings each year.
Habitat and Range
Freshwater crocodiles live in lakes, rivers and swamps, and in brackish water found on coasts, including lagoons. Large populations of crocodiles can be found throughout the world including such countries as the United States, the Dominican Republic, Australia, Madagascar and Egypt. Saltwater crocodiles are found in southeast Asia, India and northern Australia.