The flora and fauna of our planet are unique. There are microscopic representatives of the fauna that cannot be seen without a microscope, but there are very large ones that pose a real danger to humans. One of these is the combed crocodile.
A brief description of the reptile
This is one of the largest animals from the order of crocodiles. Some representatives of the species can reach a length of 7 meters, although this is rare, the average size of the animal is 4-5 meters. Females - even less, no more than 3 meters. The weight of large individuals can reach 1 ton, ordinary representatives of this species - from 500 to 600 kilograms.
This crocodile, along with poisonous snakes, belongs to the group of mammals that could survive to our times.
Scientific and folk epithets
In Latin, this species of crocodile sounds like porosus and translates as "spongy". Indeed, old individuals on the muzzle have multiple bumps, hence the name.
In Russian, the term is used - "combed crocodile". The name is given because of the presence of two powerful mammalscombs.
People use many different names for reptiles that characterize the way of life: "cannibal", "marine", "underwater".
Habitats
The s altwater crocodile has the largest range of any species. This can be explained by the fact that the reptile swims perfectly.
The animal is found on almost all coasts of Southeast Asia, in northern Australia, Sri Lanka and India, even in Vietnam (central part).
Most of all, this crocodile has chosen the coast of Australia, the island of Papua New Guinea. And in the Seychelles, the mammal was completely exterminated. Sometimes the reptile swims even to the southern coast of Japan.
By the way, in the animated film "Octonauts", the combed crocodile and his life is very well displayed, so that children can learn a lot of interesting information.
What the animal looks like
The muzzle of this species of crocodiles is somewhat different from other representatives. It is wider, the head itself is quite large and has a very massive jaw. With age, the upper part of the muzzle of the reptile becomes covered with bumps and deep wrinkles.
The main distinguishing feature is the ridges near the eyes, which, presumably, are designed to protect the eyes from blows. There are special nictitating membranes on the eyes so that the animal can look underwater.
Juveniles are yellowish-brown in color, pale, with pronounced spots and stripes of black. Over the years, spots and stripes become less pronounced. Depending on locationhabitat, reptiles may be lighter or darker.
Belly has no stripes, may be white or yellow. The underside of the tail is painted gray with darker stripes.
The scales are oval in shape and relatively small, rare, which gives more opportunities for active and fast movement under water.
The tail of the large combed crocodile is the longest of all representatives of the crocodile. In length, it is about 55% of the entire length of the body.
The jaws of the animal are massive, with conical teeth from 64 to 68, sharp and long, ideal for eroding a thick hide.
Features of the species
The heart of a reptile has 4 chambers, with a special valve that allows arterial and venous blood to mix. This allows him to breathe under water for 5 minutes, but, if necessary, he can stay there for 30 minutes. And if there is no active physical activity, it can hold out under water for up to 2 hours in a row.
Slow metabolism allows you to go without food for a long time. Even babies that have just hatched can go without food for about 58 days.
The brain of a crocodile is only 0.05% of the total mass. However, it has a complex structure and resembles a bird's brain. Therefore, the reptile is capable of learning, can remember the ways of prey migration. These crocodiles also have a wider range of sounds and use complex body language.
This species of reptile has the strongest jaw bite ever measured in an animal. If aeven omit the calculated values and go to practice, then the bite force was measured in one zoo. The studied individual weighed 531 kilograms, and was 4.59 meters long. The bite force of this individual was 1675 kilograms. Although earlier, in another zoo, the Nile 5-meter crocodile showed even better results - 2268 kilograms.
Crocodile and tears
Osmoregulation in the combed crocodile is no different from other species living in sea water. In the presence of keratinized epithelium of the oral cavity and s alt glands. An adult, without harm to he alth, can spend several months in sea water. In this case, the crocodile, under no circumstances, will not consume s alt water. During such periods, the body starts the process of minimizing the loss of moisture, and the animal receives water from food.
How a reptile lives
The main feature of the s altwater s altwater crocodile is that it can live in s alt water and go out into the open sea. These reptiles are also capable of crowding out their food competitors, even such as tiger sharks.
Modern technologies have made it possible to conduct an interesting study, satellite sensors were installed on the bodies of 20 individuals. In the end, it turned out that 8 out of 20 test subjects went to the open ocean and after 25 days swam 590 kilometers.
During the movement in the water, the animal presses its paws to the body, and moves due to the wave-like movements of the tail. If the reptile is not chasing prey, then it reaches 4.8 km / h, while chasing “food” it develops a speed of 29 km / h andabove.
On land, movement is carried out by crawling, very rarely a reptile rises to its paws or tears off its stomach from the surface of the earth. The paws of the crocodile are not well adapted to land, so it avoids shallow and swampy places.
The lifestyle of the animal is quite typical for any predator. One crocodile controls a certain territory and protects its borders from its own kind. Hunts mainly at dusk.
Diet
Crocodiles of this species are very voracious and eat almost everything that is of organic origin. From small frogs to large artiodactyls, including livestock.
A little interesting about the reptile
Indeed, the combed crocodile is not afraid of humans, but only attacks the unwary. In the same Australia, only 106 cases were recorded when a meeting between a crocodile and a person ended in a fatal outcome for the latter. These are data for 42 years (1971-2013). That is, the number is negligible. Naturally, the Australians make a lot of efforts to protect themselves, there are special detachments that drive away reptiles from settlements and catch the most “daring” individuals. It can be concluded that this species is not as dangerous as the representatives of the "leather" companies want it to be.
In 2006, information and photos of a combed crocodile 7.01 meters long and weighing 2 tons appeared in the media. He was an inhabitant of the national park in Orissa. A unique specimen was even entered into the Guinness Book of Records. At the same time, it is completely unclear how to measureand weighed the animal. There are many similar stories and messages.
