Crocodile

The crocodiles are large reptiles that live in a large portion of the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Crocodiles tend to live in slow-moving rivers and feed on a wide variety of living and dead mammals and fish. Contrary to popular belief, crocodiles tend not to eat humans, except when hungry enough, then they will eat just about anything.

Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water. Crocodiles have extremely powerful jaws (when their mouth is open) and razor-sharp teeth for tearing flesh, but cannot open their mouth if it is held closed.

The largest species of crocodile is the Saltwater Crocodile, which lives in Australia it is also the largest reptile on Earth.

Saltwater crocodiles can be very large, and therefore extremely dangerous. Freshwater crocodiles tend to be smaller and less aggressive.

Crocodiles in the wild are a protected species, but they also are farmed commercially in special Crocodile Farms, and their hide is tanned into leather and used to make handbags, boots etc, while crocodile meat is considered a delicacy by connoisseurs.

The crocodile is related to alligators caymans[?] and Gharials[?].

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Crocodilia[?]

• Family: Alligatoridae (alligators)
• Family: Gavialidae (Gavial)
• Family: Crocodylidae
  • American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus
  • Slender-snouted Crocodile Crocodylus cataphractus
  • Orinoco Crocodile Crocodylus intermedius
  • Australian Freshwater Crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni
  • Philippine Crocodile Crocodylus mindorensis
  • Morelet's Crocodile Crocodylus moreletii
  • Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus
  • New Guinea Crocodile Crocodylus novaeguineae
  • Mugger/Marsh Crocodile Crocodylus palustris
  • Estuarine/Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus
  • Cuban Crocodile Crocodylus rhombifer
  • Siamese Crocodile Crocodylus siamensis
  • Dwarf Crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis
  • False Gharial/Gavial Tomistoma schlegelii