Fun Crocodiles Facts For Kids

Crocodiles have a ferocious nature which humans have found very interesting to study. They are some of the most fearsome species known and that is what gives them their fame. Their stealth, the strength of their teeth, theri speed and their stamina makes them even more terrifying. They share a strong connection with others of the Crocodilia order like gharials, caimans and alligators. They have barely seen any evolution in the last 200 million years.

Unlike most reptiles alive on Earth, crocodiles are archosaurs, which is an extinct group of reptiles under which some dinosaurs also belonged. The reason they survived, even 65 million years after dinosaurs went extinct, is supposedly because of how well they have adapted to their habitats, both land and water. In South and North America, Africa, Australia, and Asia, there are 14 distinct crocodile species that live in both sea and freshwater habitats, that is there exists both saltwater crocodile and freshwater crocodile. In this article, you will get to know about some of the best tidbits about gharial crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, the American crocodile, American Crocodilia, Philippine crocodiles, dwarf crocodile, and Caymen crocodiles. You will also be interested to know about the types of crocodiles, crocodiles' sounds, crocodiles' hunting, and prehistoric crocodiles along with the alligator, dwarf crocodile, and the Australia saltwater crocodiles. So keep reading for more such fun facts about crocodiles.

For more similar content, check out alligator and Burmese python facts.

What type of animal are crocodiles?

The crocodile is a type of reptile which belongs to the family Crocodylidae.

What class of animal do crocodiles belong to?

The crocodile belongs to the Reptilia class.

How many crocodiles are there in the world?

Although the exact population of the crocodile is unknown, there are as many as 23 species of reptiles living in around 90 countries. Crocodile numbers have declined across their distribution as human settlements and changes in the land have limited their range. Overhunting for their precious skins—which provide fabric for handbags, accessories, belts, and other articles—has seriously reduced many Crocodilia species. They are still commonly used for meat and medicine in the local population.

Where do crocodiles live?

Crocodiles can be found in river deltas and mangrove swamps. Crocodiles can be found in Africa, Asia, America, and Australia, in American tropical environments. They like to live near water such as streams, wetlands, ponds, and saltwater. Hence, the name saltwater crocodile. One of the largest recognized concentrations of American crocodiles can be located in the huge saltwater lake called Lago Enriquillo of the Dominican Republic. The saltwater crocodile can be found here.

What is crocodiles' habitat?

Crocodiles prefer tropical environments for a purpose. They have cold blood and are unable to produce heat on their own. They hibernate or just go idle during the winter months. During long periods of famine, crocodiles will even go inactive. They carve a burrow in the slope of the banks of the water like a river or lake and stay in for a sound slumber and establish a spot to hibernate.

Who do crocodiles live with?

Crocodiles are by far the most collaborative reptiles on the planet. Most species gather in groups in some parts of river water, accepting each other at eating and basking periods, despite the fact that they do not form social communities. The saltwater crocodile is an extremely territorial and violent species. A full-grown saltwater crocodile would not tolerate any other male crocodile irrespective of the season. However, almost all other varieties are more versatile. Crocodiles have a hierarchy: the biggest and strongest males will be at the highest, with access to decent basking spots near the water, while females take precedence during a collective meal of a massive kill or carcass.

How long do crocodiles live?

On average, these reptiles have a lifespan of 30-40 years. Henry the Nile Crocodile is the world's oldest surviving crocodile in confinement. He gained fame as a man-eater in Botswana until being rescued by an elephant shooter called Sir Henry in 1903. He is believed to be around 117 years old and now lives at Crocworld Conservation Centre in South Africa. The oldest recorded crocodile is Mr. Freshie, a saltwater crocodile who lived to be 140 years of age.

How do they reproduce?

Crocodiles are dimorphic in their sexuality, with adult males being heavier than females. Copulation takes place in the ocean, and it is accompanied by a lengthy courtship in which the species communicate with one another by body profile shifts, contact, and vocalization. Chemical cues are most often used in courtship. Crocodile eggs are always hard-shelled eggs that weigh between 0.1-0.4 lb (50-160 g) each. Based on her age and species, a female will lay anything from 24-48 eggs per clutch. There are two kinds of nest construction. Some animals, such as the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), build a hole in the sand and then cover it with soil after laying their eggs. Others, like the estuarine (or saltwater crocodile, Crocodylus porosus), construct a pile of plant matter and soil. The eggs are laid in the mound, where the heat of the sun, the warm air, and the gradual rot of vegetation keep the weather warm enough for the embryo's growth. Incubation will take anywhere from 55-100 days. The intensity of the incubation temperature at a crucial moment, which is within the first half of its incubation cycle, decides the sex of the growing embryo. Females are produced by cooler and colder temperatures, males are produced by ambient temperature, and both sexes are produced by temperatures above 88°F (31 °C).

What is their conservation status?

Out of the 23 identified species, 12 have been given the status of Least Concern, four are Vulnerable and seven have been labelled as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Philippine crocodile is perhaps the most endangered of these species, with fewer than 100 specimens left in the wild.

What do crocodiles look like?

Crocodiles are huge reptiles with dense, scaly skin covered in protected, waterproof layers that shield them from predators while also keeping their build from becoming dry. Since these scales arrive in a range of colors ranging from bland olive and gray to orange, grays, and black, they blend in well or camouflage with the sea environment and foliage. Their eyes and nose are situated just at the peak of their wide face and mouth, much like most Crocodilia animals, meaning they can wait patiently in the water with hardly any of their bodies visible to help ambush prey. Even though these reptiles have webbed feet, crocodiles do not utilize them to help them dive. Their vertically compressed tails are very heavy and are utilized to drive them across the water. Crocodiles have a unique translucent third eyelid that helps them to hold their eyes wide open while shielding them against water harm They also have exterior flaps to cover their ears and nose, as well as a unique breathing mechanism that includes staying submerged for up to about two hours.

How cute are they?

Crocodiles are not cute at all. Their scaly skin and ferocious features, like their teeth, make them unappealing and scary to look at. In addition to that, their sky looks make the crocodile (Crocodylus) have an appearance that has nothing to do with looking cute.

How do they communicate?

Crocodiles use a number of strategies to interact. They can communicate by sight, touch, and scent. Sound, on the other hand, is their most interesting mode of communication. Crocodilians lack vocal cords, but they might hiss, cough, growl, grunt, and bellow to communicate a wide variety of emotions. Crocodilians produce a number of sounds based on their habitat, age, height, sex, and climate. Individualized changes in tones, frequencies, and calling habits may exist, just as individuals have different voices and speaking mannerisms. Threats, alarm signs, hatching calls, touch calls, and bonding bellows are all applications for crocodilian sounds. Vocal sounds may be used by certain animals to transmit more than twenty varied signals.

How big are crocodiles?

Male crocodiles measures around 17 ft (5.1 m). On the other hand, female crocodiles have a length of 10 ft (3 m). The saltwater crocodile is the largest and dwarf crocodile is the smallest, with a huge size difference between the two.

How fast can crocodiles move?

These predators can run mostly at a speed of around 15-22 mph (25-35 kph).

How much do crocodiles weigh?

The average male predators weigh around 899-1,151 lb (408-522 kg), whereas female predators can weigh about 168-227 lb (76-103 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

The male crocodile is called a bull, while the female crocodile is called a cow.

What would you call a baby crocodile?

A crocodile baby is termed a hatchling.

What do they eat?

Crocodiles are stealth hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to approach before charging in for food. They will go for long stretches without food since they are cold-blooded creatures, and they seldom need to deliberately prey for food. Crocodiles, notwithstanding their sluggish nature, are top predators in their habitat, and some species have been seen terrorizing sharks. Crocodiles eat mainly vertebrates like fish, frogs, and rodents, but some species also eat invertebrates like mollusks and crustaceans.

Are they dangerous?

Yes, crocodiles are quite dangerous. Their bites can be fatal to other animals as well as humans.

Would they make a good pet?

No, a crocodile would not make a good pet because of its ferocious and dangerous nature. Furthermore, a crocodile is not a friendly animal simply because of its predatorial and aggressive nature and so would not make a good pet.

Did you know...

A group of crocodiles is called a bask.

Large felines are among the natural predators of a crocodile. These include jaguars, tigers, leopards, and more. Serpents like anacondas and pythons can also prey on a crocodile.  

Amazingly, the bony frameworks called osteoderms, throughout the skin on their backs render the skin of a crocodile bulletproof.

Alligators vs. crocodiles

While alligators have a U-shaped mouth, crocodiles have a V-shaped snout. You can never see an alligator's lower teeth, but some of the lower teeth of a crocodile are visible. While the alligator is black or gray-colored, the crocodile is tan or olive-colored. Also, as a general rule of thumb is that crocodiles tend to be more aggressive than alligators

Where are there crocodiles in Australia?

Crocs can be seen on all of Northern Australia's beaches, especially the ones on the north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The safest sighting spot is now the Northern Territory's Kakadu National Park. The Adelaide River is also a safe place to look for them. In Daintree, Queensland, there is also a huge crocodile population. Some other places to see crocodiles include Kununurra, Katherine, and Derby.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles including dwarf crocodile, or caiman.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our crocodile coloring pages.