How much does a crocodile weigh? The smallest and largest crocodile. How long do crocodiles live

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

The crocodile is perhaps one of the scariest animals that scare children. His aggression is inexplicable for an unenlightened layman, although it is dictated only by instinct. On the inexplicable desire of an adult crocodile to drag the victim faster to the bottom, many plots of works of art are built. Therefore, the answer to a purely practical question is always interesting: “How much does a crocodile weigh so that it can deal with the victim so easily?”.

Size and weight

How much a crocodile weighs, what its dimensions will become, depends on the type and gender of the reptiles. Sea (aka ridged) can grow more than seven meters and, accordingly, will weigh about a ton. Dwarf crocodiles (blunt-nosed, aka West African) grow up to a maximum of 1.9 meters, and it will gain weight up to 32 kg (maximum - 80 kg). Crocodiles are animals with pronounced sexual dimorphism, males grow much faster and become much larger than females. Moreover, a carcass weighing more than a ton grows out of a baby 20 cm in size.

Observations on the size of crocodiles and their weight are difficult due to behavioral characteristics and inaccessibility of placesreptile habitats.

Only observations of crocodiles in captivity are reliable. The largest crocodile ever seen is a combo-Siamese crocodile hybrid named Yai on a farm in Thailand. Its length is 6 meters, weight - 1114 kg.

Length of the largest crocodile caught alive - 6.17 meters, weight - 1075 kg (Philippines).

How long do crocodiles live

It is difficult to determine the age of a crocodile with a high probability. The usual method adopted is to measure lamellar rings in teeth and bones: once every year, when the climate changes from dry to wet, a new ring appears as a result of a change in growth rate.

Therefore, the age of crocodiles is almost always spoken of with an estimated degree of probability. According to such estimates, almost all species of crocodiles live from thirty to forty years, although it is believed that large ones (combed, Nile, swamp, Central American) can live up to 70 years. Some of the largest specimens of combed crocodiles live over a hundred years.

Crocodile as an animal

The name crocodile is commonly used to identify all reptiles of the crocodile species. But only representatives of the family of true crocodiles can be strictly attributed to Crocodylinae. Based on this, this article will consider the features of the crocodile family (with the exception of gavials and alligators)

There are 24 known species of crocodiles in the world, divided into 3 families and 8 genera.

The largest family - crocodile, includes three genera - real crocodiles, blunt-nosed,gavial.1 genus - real crocodiles:

• African narrow-nosed;
• marsh;
• combed;
• Cuban;
• Nile;
• New Guinean;
• Orinoco;
• sharp-snouted;
• freshwater;
• Siamese;
• Filipino;
• Central American.

2 genus - blunt crocodiles. Includes only one representative - the blunt-nosed crocodile (in Latin - Osteolaemus tetraspis) - the West African dwarf crocodile.

3 genus - gavial.

Also has only one representative - Tomistoma schlegelii (false gavial).

African narrow-nosed (Mecistops cataphractus)

Classified as an endangered species, little studied. Habitat - throughout western tropical Africa from Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru in the east / southeast to the Gambia River in the west. Length up to 4 meters (although individuals over 3-3.5 meters have not been observed today during observations), weight - presumably up to 230 kg.

Feeds mainly on fish, adults can eat turtles and birds, females lay up to 16 large eggs, clutch is not guarded, hatching period - up to 110 days. They live in rivers overgrown with vegetation, according to estimated estimates, now up to 20,000 adults, its number is constantly decreasing. They live in 10 subpopulations. When asked how long Mecistops cataphractus crocodiles live, answer exactlyscientists cannot because of insufficient knowledge of the species. Estimated data from the Red Book - 25 years.

Marsh (Crocodylus palustris)

Red-listed, ranged in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and possibly Bangladesh, range extending west into eastern Iran, current status about 8,700 individuals, increase since 1989 almost 6,000 adult crocodiles.

Inhabits any water bodies, even artificially created ones, digs holes along the banks, where it survives in dry times or extremely cold (up to 5 degrees). It feeds on fish, mammals, birds, turtles. In a fight with a leopard, he often wins. Seen recently in an attack on people, which, according to scientists, indicates an increase in numbers.

Considered an average species, the size of a crocodile is on average: females - up to 2.45 meters, males - up to 3.5 meters, weight on average from 50 kg for females and up to 250 kg for males. The weight of a mature male can reach up to 400 kg with a length of up to 4.5 meters. The clutch can contain up to 30 eggs, the hatching period is from 50 to 75 days. It moves well on land, can develop a decent speed - up to 12 km per hour. An interesting feature is the creation of a bait for hunting birds. The crocodile lays on the muzzle (and it lies on the water in a horizontal plane) tree branches. Birds, worried about the lack of building material for nests, fly very close to the reptile.

Ridden, or marine

The largest species of crocodiles and the most dangerous to humans. Settlement area - byinland and surrounding waters of Southeast Asia and Australia. This species is the most common and the most studied.

How long the combed crocodile lives is known most fully, since both hunters and scientists have been studying this species due to its danger. According to observations, the lifespan of this species is 50-80 years, although according to the studied remains, some specimens lived up to a hundred years.

The size of the combed crocodile is quite impressive. The maximum of those described is 10 meters, although today it is from 5 to 6 meters. Weight up to two tons. On average - up to 700 kg.

Grows all his life. In the biosystem of its range - the top of the food chain. Adults feed not only on fish, small and medium-sized mammals, but also on the largest animals, including predators.

According to paleontologists, this species of crocodiles arose more than 12 million years ago. It is considered very ancient.

The features of the s altwater crocodile include its ability to move far in sea water. Marked individuals swam up to 500 km from their traditional habitats, using sea currents to save strength.

Scientists define its status as the least vulnerable to extinction.

Cuban (Crocodylus rhombifer)

Listed in the Red Book (there are up to 5000 adults, endangered due to extermination and hybridization with narrow-nosed (both in artificial and natural conditions, the offspring reproduces). Lives onCuba, belongs in size to medium-sized (2.3 meters in length, weighing up to 40 kg), mature males can reach a weight of up to 200 kg with a length of up to 3.5 meters.

One of the most aggressive crocodiles. It moves well on land at speeds up to 17 km per hour. Females lay up to 60 eggs, the incubation period is up to 70 days. They eat fish, mammals, birds. People are rarely attacked in natural conditions, it is believed that this is due to their small number. In captivity, behavior is extremely aggressive towards humans.

Nile (Crocodylus niloticus)

This species is considered as aggressive as the combed one. The size of the crocodile is slightly smaller than the combed one. The descriptions indicate a length of up to 6 meters, but today the existing mature individuals, depending on the region of habitat, can be up to a maximum of 3.5 meters. There are enough modern reliable records of how much the crocodile Crocodylus niloticus weighs to estimate its weight on average. Observations show that the weight of a modern Nile crocodile can range from 250 to 350 kg.

His man-eating habits are known to all inhabitants of the vast territory of Africa south of the Sahara. He prefers the fresh waters of Africa, but the population noticed him in coastal waters. He, like the combed crocodile, the top of the food chain of his ecosystem, eats everything and of various weights, which he can reach, jump, grab. The status of the animal is the least dangerous for extinction.

New Guinea (Crocodylusnovaeguineae)

Relatively small of real crocodiles. According to DNA studies, it is recognized as a close relative of the Philippine, but it is separated into a separate species. Habitat - inland water spaces of the island of New Guinea. Until 1996, it was listed in the Red Book with the status of "threat of extinction", then with an assessment of "least concern". Like all crocodiles, it was exterminated in the fifties and sixties of the last century because of the valuable skin. In 1970, after the adoption of a program of measures for protection, the number by 1996 was restored for the natural continuation of the population. Now, according to various estimates, up to 50 thousand.

The size of the crocodile Crocodylus novaeguineae - from 2.7 meters in females to 3.5 meters in males. Measured body weight - 294.5 kg.

The New Guinea crocodile is divided into two populations - northern and southern. The way of life (especially masonry) of crocodiles in them is slightly different. In the northern population, the nest is built on the water from plants, in the southern population - more often on land.

The New Guinea crocodile is the most vociferous crocodile: both babies and adults make a huge number of sounds for different life situations, which allows them to "communicate".

Orinoco

This crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) has the status of an endangered species in the Red Book. To date, its number is estimated as extremely low to maintain the population - only up to one and a half thousand.

In the fifties-in the sixties of the last century, after a mass hunt, the population was practically on the verge of extinction. In 1970, after the introduction of protection status, the number increased slightly. It is still exterminated, as it has valuable skin. In addition, the local population collects crocodile babies for the purpose of subsequent sale.

Lives in Venezuela and Colombia (Orinoco basin), prefers fresh lakes and rivers.

The size of the crocodile is quite impressive - up to 5.2 meters (males), females are much smaller - up to 3.6 meters. Due to the lack of knowledge (due to the lack of the individuals themselves), there is a problem in determining the mass. How much the crocodile Crocodylus intermedius weighs is known from hunters, the average weight of a male is 380 kg, females - 225 kg.

Maximum 70 eggs in clutch. The mother not only guards the eggs for two and a half months before hatching, but also takes care of the babies for the next three years.

There are cases of attacks on people. But due to the small population and the inaccessibility of habitats, this rarely happens.

Sharp-nosed

The largest crocodile in the New World. Lives in fresh and s alt lakes, at the mouths of rivers. They move well on the water, populating the islands. The size of a crocodile of this species depends on the population, somewhere less (up to 4 meters on average), somewhere more (up to 5-6 meters in hardened males). The main food - fish, unlike combed and Nile (similar in size), do not switch to feeding on mammals. Seen in attacks on people, although these are quite rare cases.

Freshwater (Crocodylusjohnsoni)

Inhabits the rivers of Australia, does not go out to sea and estuaries, being afraid of being caught by the combed (marine) crocodile. It feeds on fish and small vertebrates. Sizes on average up to 3 meters, in the population in northern Australia, the size is smaller. It is not dangerous for humans, since the force of compression of its jaws is rather weak. How long Crocodylus johnsoni crocodiles live in captivity (in particular, in the Australian Zoo) is known for sure - up to twenty years, although presumably some individuals can exist and grow up to a hundred years or more.

Siamese (Crocodylus siamensis)

Lives in Indonesia, Brunei, East Malaysia, southern Indochina. Populations of crocodiles living in all countries of the region number only 5,000 individuals. Listed in the Red Book. In Cambodia and Thailand, special programs for the conservation of the species are successfully operating. The maximum size of this crocodile is 3 meters, although when hybridized with a combed crocodile, it is up to 4 meters. Feeds on fish and small vertebrates.

Filipino (Crocodylus mindorensis)

Endangered, only 200 adults. The maximum size is up to three meters. Feeds on fish and small mammals. Formerly considered a subspecies of the New Guinea crocodile, now separated into a separate species.

Central American (Crocodylus moreletii)

Lives in the tropical forests of Central America. The size of males in today's conditions is up to 2.7 meters (previously, according to the results of hunting - up to 4.5 meters and weighing up to 400 kg). Cannibalism has not been noticed lately, the explanation for this is the remoteness of habitats. Feeds on fish and reptilesand mammals.

Bumpy-nosed crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) - West African pygmy crocodile

Grows up to 1.8 meters (maximum), weight from 18 to 32 kilograms (maximum - 80 kg), found alone or in pairs, lives in burrows or hollows of trees inclined close to the water. This is a heavily armored crocodile (he needs it to protect himself from large predators that eat him), with dark spots on his back and sides, with a yellow belly. Compared to the largest combed crocodile (up to 9 meters), it is just a baby, it is considered the smallest crocodile in the world (similar in size to a smooth-fronted caiman).

Refers to little-studied species. According to the study, the number of crocodile is slowly decreasing due to changes in the ecosystem of habitats (deforestation, approaching places of human activity). Listed in the Red Book with the status of little vulnerable.

Lives in western Africa. Prefers fresh water. Leads a nocturnal lifestyle. It digs deep holes, and quite often their entrance is located below the water level.

Close most often 10 eggs (sometimes up to 20).

Tomistoma schlegelii (false gharial)

Lives in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam. Prefers slow rivers, swampy lakes. Lives among thickets or on drifting islands of vegetation. The species of false gharials is listed in the Red Book with the status of “threatened with extinction. The number of all populations is no more than 2500 adults. The size of males of this species can reach up to 6 meters. Because ofelongated muzzle got its name - gavial. The narrow long muzzle is the result of eating habits, mainly soft mammals and reptiles. In recent years, there have been several cases of attacks on people.