Crocodile Facts
Some Amazing Crocodile Facts
Here are some very interesting crocodile facts you may not know:
The bite force of the crocodile imparts more than 5000 pounds per square inch of pressure.
The crocodile, facts confirm, has very sharp teeth, for holding onto and tearing up the flesh of its prey. But they can't open their mouth if you hold it shut, even with only a big rubber band or duct tape.
Crocodiles are related more closely to American birds and ancient dinosaurs than other reptiles are.
Some kinds of crocodile, facts state, can actually gallop after prey. The types that can do this include African dwarf crocodiles and Cuban crocodiles.
When crocodile eggs are ready to hatch, the mother may help by cracking the shells in her mouth. Crocodile eggs are almost the exact same size as goose eggs.
You've probably never heard the sound made by a crocodile. Facts reported by naturalists say that crocs can make sounds during aggressive displays and when they are in distress.
In many societies that live in tribes, crocodile skin is believed to be a status symbol.
The belly skin of a crocodile, facts explain, is soft, but their back is covered with bony plates that can deflect spears, arrows and some bullets.
Crocodiles lower their body temperature by sweating through glands in their mouth. A crocodile lying with its mouth open is actually trying to cool off.
The heart of a crocodile, facts confirm, has four chambers, unlike most other reptiles, which have three-chambered hearts.
Crocodiles have been on earth for nearly 240 million years. They appeared at about the same time as the dinosaurs.
Crocodile eyes reflect back light, which makes them appear red, and they also have extremely good night vision.
The crocodile, facts state, doesn't shed its skin. It actually grows into it.
The American crocodile is an endangered species in most parts of the country where it is found. Conservationists tell us that their levels are critically close to extinction.
The crocodile population in Florida is still fairly vibrant, but more are found in South America, the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.
Crocodiles look like prehistoric animals, and you can distinguish them from their cousins the American alligators, by their lighter color and their thinner snouts.
American crocodiles are some of the largest in the world – some reaching up to 20 feet. Typical males in the United States only reach about 13 feet, though.
The diet of the crocodile, facts state, is usually made up of carrion, frogs, snails, insects, crabs, fish, birds and small mammals.
The average lifespan of a crocodile is about seventy years.
There are twenty-three species of crocodiles, and they mainly inhabit southern areas of the world. The northern areas have winters that are too cold for them.