Nile crocodile
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Crocodilian Family: Crocodylidae Subfamily: Crocodylinae Genus: Crocodylus Species: C. niloticus
Binomial name
Crocodylus niloticus (Laurenti, 1768)

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is one of the 4 species of crocodiles found in Africa, and the second largest species of crocodile. Nile crocodiles can be found throughout most of Africa south of the Sahara, and on the island of Madagascar. The Nile crocodile can, and often will, easily snatch and devour a man. While it is no longer threatened with extinction as a species, the population in many countries is in danger of vanishing. Nile Crocodile free use from images of Africa File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn2. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Reptilia redirects here. ... Suborders Eusuchia Protosuchia † Mesosuchia † Sebecosuchia † Thalattosuchia † Crocodilia is an order of large reptiles that scientists believe branched off from class Reptilia about 220 million years ago. ... Genera Crocodylus Osteolaemus Tomistoma A crocodile can be any of the 14 species of large, water-loving reptiles in the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the subfamily Crocodylinae). ... Genera Crocodylus Osteolaemus Tomistoma A crocodile can be any of the 14 species of large, water-loving reptiles in the family Crocodylidae (sometimes classified instead as the subfamily Crocodylinae). ... This article needs to be wikified. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Joseph Nicolai Laurenti (December 4, 1735 - February 17, 1805) was an Austrian naturalist. ... For other uses, see Crocodile (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Extinction (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ...

Biology and appearance

The Nile crocodile's size, widespread range, and overlap with humanity have continued to make them unpopular with people.

Like all crocodiles, they are quadrupeds with four short, splayed legs; long, powerful tails; a scaly hide with rows of ossified scutes running down their back and tail; and powerful jaws. They have nictitating membranes to protect their eyes and, despite the misconceptions, they do have lachrymal glands, and can cleanse their eyes with tears. The Zebra is an example of a quadruped. ... Diagram of an insect leg A leg is the part of an animals body that supports the rest of the animal above the ground and is used for locomotion. ... A scorpion tail The tail is the section at the rear end of an animals body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. ... In this SEM image of a butterfly wing the scales are clearly visible, and the tiny platelets on each individual scale are just barely visible in the striping. ... A scute (Latin scutum, shield) is a horny, chitinous, or bony external plate or scale, as on the shell of a turtle or the underside of a snake. ... Human jaw front view Human jaw left view Human jaw top view The jaw is either of the two opposable structures forming, or near the entrance to, the mouth. ... Many species of land animals have a nictitating membrane, which can move across the eyeball to give the sensitive eye structures additional protection in particular circumstances. ... Tears trickling down the cheeks Lacrimation is the bodys process of producing tears, which are a liquid to clean and lubricate the eyes. ...

Nostrils, eyes, and ears are situated on the tops of their head, so the rest of the body can remain concealed underwater. Their coloration also helps them hide: Juveniles are grey, dark olive, or brown; with darker cross-bands on their tail and body. As they mature they become darker and the cross-bands fade, especially those on the body. The underbelly is yellowish, and makes high-quality leather. A nostril is one of the two channels of the nose, from the point where they bifurcate to the external opening. ... For other uses, see Eye (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ear (disambiguation). ...

They often crawl along on their bellies, but they can also "high walk" with their trunks raised above the ground. Smaller specimens can gallop, and even larger crocodiles are capable of surprising bursts of speed. They can swim much faster by moving their body and tail in a sinouous fashion, and they can sustain this form of movement much longer at about 30 to 35 km/h. Horse gaits are the different ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans. ... Kilometre per hour (American spelling: kilometer per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ...

They have a four-chambered heart, like a bird, which is especially efficient at oxygenating their blood. They normally dive for only a couple of minutes, but will stay underwater for up to 30 minutes if threatened, and if they remain inactive they can hold their breath for up to 2 hours. They have an ectothermic metabolism, so they can survive a long time between meals — though when they do eat, they can eat up to half their body weight at a time. The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Cold-blooded organisms, more technically known as poikilothermic, are animals that have no internal metabolic mechanism for regulating their body temperatures. ...

They have a rich vocal range, and good hearing. Their skin has a number of poorly-understood integumentary sense organs (ISOs), that may react to changes in water pressure. Hearing (or audition) is one of the traditional five senses, and refers to the ability to detect sound. ... Water pressure is the pressure in any system for supplying water, usually a domestic water system, although the term is used in other contexts as well, such as a municipal water system. ...

Their jaws are capable of exerting impressive force as they hold on to their prey. Their mouths are filled with a total of 64 to 68 cone-shaped teeth. On each side of the mouth, there are 5 teeth in the front of the upper jaw (the premaxilla), 13 or 14 in the rest of the upper jaw (the maxilla), and 14 or 15 on either side of the lower jaw (the mandible). Hatchlings quickly lose a hardened piece of skin on the top of their mouth called the egg tooth, which they use to break through their egg's shell at birth. Types of teeth Molars are used for grinding up foods Carnassials are used for slicing food. ... The premaxilla is a pair of small bones at the very tip of the jaws of many animals, usually bearing teeth, but not always. ... The maxilla (plural: maxillae) is a fusion of two bones along the palatal fissure that form the upper jaw. ... The mandible (from Latin mandibÅ­la, jawbone) or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face. ... An egg tooth is not a true tooth, but a small horny protruberance on the beak or nose of vertebrates that are hatched from eggs, ie: birds and reptiles. ...

Nile crocodiles in captivity have lived up to 56 years, but scientists estimate that in their natural habitat, they can live 70–100 years.^{[citation needed]}

Size

View of a Nile crocodile from the side

The Nile crocodile is the largest African crocodilian, reaching lengths of up to 6.1 m (20 ft).^[1] Good sized males weigh 500 kg (1100 lb), and exceptional specimens may exceed 900 kg (2,000 lb).^[2] Like all crocodiles they are sexually dimorphic, with the males up to 30% larger than the females, though the difference is even less in some species, like the Saltwater crocodile. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2620x1040, 1540 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Nile crocodile Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2620x1040, 1540 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Nile crocodile Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... black: range of Crocodilia Families Gavialidae Alligatoridae Crocodylidae Crocodilia is an order of large reptiles that appeared about 84 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous Period (Campanian stage). ... The pound or pound-mass (abbreviations: lb, , lbm, or sometimes in the United States: #) is a unit of mass (sometimes called weight in everyday parlance) in a number of different systems, including the imperial and US and older English systems. ... Female (left) and male Common Pheasant, illustrating the dramatic difference in both color and size, between the sexes Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. ...

Seven meters (23 ft) and larger specimens have been reported, but since overestimation of size is common, these reports are suspect. The largest living specimen is purported to be a notorious man-eater from Burundi named Gustave; he is believed to be approximately 20 feet long (some reports say up to 26 ft) and would therefore be close in size to the larger saltwater crocodiles. Such giants are rare today; before the heavy hunting of the 1940s and 1950s, a larger population base and more extensive wetland habitats meant more giants. Gustave is estimated to be a 6m long, over one-ton[1] crocodile residing on a river-island near Lake Tanganyika in Burundi, Africa. ... Habitat (which is Latin for it inhabits) is the place where a particular species live and grow. ...

There is some evidence that Nile crocodiles from cooler climates like the southern tip of Africa are smaller, and may reach lengths of only 4 m (13 ft). Dwarf Nile crocodiles also exist in Mali and in the Sahara desert, which reach only 2 to 3 m (6.5 to 10 ft) in length. Their reduced size is probably the result of the less than ideal environmental conditions, not genetics. The Sahara is the worlds second largest desert (second to Antarctica), over 9,000,000 km² (3,500,000 mi²), located in northern Africa and is 2. ...

The bite force exerted by an adult nile crocodile was thought to be about 3000 psi, however the new work by Brady Barr has revealed that in fact the bite of a Nile crocodile can be 5000 psi or more. ^[3] Brady Barr is the host of National Geographics Reptile Wild and Dangerous Encounters. ...

Mating and breeding

A float of crocodiles at Disney's Animal Kingdom

For males, the onset of sexual maturity occurs when they are about 3 m (10 ft) long; while for females, it occurs when they reach 2 to 2.5 m (6.5 to 8 ft) in length. This takes about 10 years for either sex, under normal conditions. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (858x459, 117 KB) Pictures from Disneys Animal Kingdom. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (858x459, 117 KB) Pictures from Disneys Animal Kingdom. ... A closeup view of the Tree of Life Animal Kingdom entrance Disneys Animal Kingdom is a theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. ... Sexual maturity is the age/stage when an organism can reproduce. ...

During the mating season, males attract females by bellowing, slapping their snouts in the water, blowing water out of their noses, and making a variety of other noises. The larger males of a population tend to be more successful. Once a female has been attracted, the pair warble and rub the underside of their jaws together. Females lay their eggs about 2 months after mating. Estrus (also spelled œstrus) or heat in female mammals is the period of greatest female sexual responsiveness usually coinciding with ovulation. ... In most birds and reptiles, an egg (Latin ovum) is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum. ...

Nesting is in November or December, which is the dry season in the north of Africa, and the rainy season in the south. Preferred nesting locations are sandy shores, dry stream beds, or riverbanks. The female then digs a hole a couple of meters (yards) from the bank and up to 500 mm (20 in) deep, and lays between 25 and 80 eggs. The number of eggs varies between different populations, but averages around 50. Multiple females may nest close together. For other uses, see Nest (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The wet season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. ... Shore A shore or shoreline is the land at the edge of a large body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake. ... The bed of this stream is made up of rocks, some very rounded (having had a longer life in the stream) and some not. ... A yard (abbreviation: yd) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

The eggs resemble hen eggs, but have a much thinner shell.

Once the eggs are laid, the expectant mother covers the eggs with sand, and then guards them for the 3 month incubation period. The father-to-be will often stay nearby, and both parents will fiercely attack anything that approaches their eggs. The impending mother will only leave the nest if she needs to cool off (thermoregulation), by taking a quick dip or seeking out a patch of shade. Despite the attentive care of both parents, the nests are often raided by human beings, monitor lizards, and other animals while the mother is temporarily absent. The word incubation (from the Latin incubare, to lie upon) can mean the following: In chemistry or biochemistry, incubation refers to maintaining a system under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction. ... Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when temperature surrounding is very different. ... Species Many, see text. ...

The hatchlings start to make a high-pitched chirping noise before hatching, which is the signal for the mother to rip open the nest. Both the mother and father may pick up the eggs in their mouths, and roll them between their tongue and the upper palate of their mouth to help crack the shell, and release their offspring. Once they are hatched, the female may lead the hatchlings to water, or even carry them there, in her mouth. For other uses, see Tongue (disambiguation). ... The palate is the roof of the mouth in humans and vertebrate animals. ...

Nile crocodile eggs

Nile crocodiles have Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), which means the sex of their hatchlings is determined not by genetics, but by the average temperature during the middle third of their incubation period. If the temperature inside the nest is below 31.7 °C (89.1 °F), or above 34.5 °C (94.1 °F), the offspring will be female. Males can only be born if the temperature is within that narrow 5-degree range. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1812x1577, 517 KB) This image was originally posted to Flickr as croc_eggs. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1812x1577, 517 KB) This image was originally posted to Flickr as croc_eggs. ... Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) is where the surrounding temperature determines the sex of an organism. ... For other uses, see Temperature (disambiguation). ...

Hatchlings are about 300 mm (12 in) long at birth, and grow that much each year. The new mother will protect her offspring for up to two years, and if there are multiple nests in the same area, the mothers may form a crèche. During this time, the mothers may pick up their offspring to protect them, either in their mouth or in her gular or throat pouch, to keep the babies safe. The mother will sometimes carry her young on her back to avoid them getting eaten by turtles or water snakes. At the end of the two years, the hatchlings will be about 1.2 m (4 ft) long, and will naturally depart the nest area, avoiding the territories of older and larger crocodiles. The Crèche in zoology refers to care of anothers offspring, for instance in a colony. ... Gular scales on a Buff-striped Keelback Amphiesma stolata. ...

Crocodile longevity is not well established, but larger species like the Nile crocodile live longer, and may have an average life span of 70–100 years. Life expectancy is the average number of years remaining for a living being (or the average for a class of living beings) of a given age to live. ...

Diet and eating behavior

Hatchlings eat insects and small aquatic invertebrates, and quickly graduate to amphibians, reptiles, and birds. But even as an adult, 70% of a Nile crocodile's diet is fish and other small vertebrates, though adult crocodiles can potentially eat nearly any vertebrate that comes to take a drink at the edge of the water. Adult Nile Crocodiles are known to eat zebras, buffalo, warthogs, hyenas, baboons, antelope like the Wildebeest, giraffe, big cats^[4][5] and other crocodiles. Orders Subclass Apterygota Archaeognatha (bristletails) Thysanura (silverfish) Subclass Pterygota Infraclass Paleoptera (Probably paraphyletic) Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass Neoptera Superorder Exopterygota Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera (angel insects) Dermaptera (earwigs) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (stick insects) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Psocoptera... Invertebrate is an English word that describes any animal without a spinal column. ... For other uses, see Amphibian (disambiguation). ... Reptilia redirects here. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Zebra (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Syncerus caffer (Sparrman, 1779) Subspecies The African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a bovid from the family of the Bovidae. ... Binomial name (Pallas, 1766) This article is about the animal. ... Subfamilies and Genera Hyaeninae Crocuta Hyaena Parahyaena Protelinae Proteles Hyenas or Hyænas are moderately large terrestrial carnivores native to Africa, Arabia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. ... For other uses, see Baboon (disambiguation). ... This article is about the herbivorous mammals. ... Species Connochaetes gnou Connochaetes taurinus The wildebeest (plural, wildebeest or wildebeests), also called the gnu (pronounced or ), is an antelope of the genus Connochaetes. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 Range map The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species. ... For people nicknamed The Big Cat, see The Big Cat. ...

A Spur-winged Plover picking the teeth of a Nile crocodile

Adult Nile crocodiles use their bodies and tail to herd groups of fish toward a bank, and eat them with quick sideways jerks of their heads. They also cooperate, blocking migrating fish by forming a semicircle across the river. The most dominant crocodile eats first. Image File history File links PloverCrocodileSymbiosis. ... Image File history File links PloverCrocodileSymbiosis. ...

Their ability to lie concealed with most of their body underwater, combined with their speed over short distances, makes them effective opportunistic hunters of larger prey. They grab such prey in their powerful jaws, drag it into the water, and hold it underneath until it drowns. They will also scavenge kills, although they avoid rotting meat. Groups of Nile crocodiles may travel hundreds of meters (yards) from a waterway to feast on a carcass.

Once their prey is dead, they rip off and swallow chunks of flesh. When groups of Nile crocodiles are sharing a kill, they use each other for leverage, biting down hard and then twisting their body to tear off large pieces of meat. This is called the death roll. They may also get the necessary leverage by lodging their prey under branches or stones, before rolling and ripping.

Nile crocodiles are reputed to have a symbiotic relationship with certain birds like the spur-winged plover. According to reports, the crocodile opens its mouth wide, and then the bird picks pieces of meat from between the crocodile's teeth. This has proven hard to verify, and may not be a true symbiotic relationship. For other uses, see Symbiosis (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Vanellus spinosus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) is a lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. ...

Habitat and range

Distribution of C. niloticus

The preferred habitat of Nile crocodiles is along rivers, in freshwater marshes, or along lakes; in some cases they thrive in more brackish water, along estuaries or in mangrove swamps. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ... This article is about marsh, a type of wetland. ... For other uses, see Lake (disambiguation). ... Brackish redirects here. ... An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has a free connection with the open sea and within which sea water mixes with fresh water. ... Above and below water view at the edge of the mangal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

They are found in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, extending as far south as Kruger National Park and the Waterberg Massif in South Africa; they also occur in northern Madagascar, and along the Nile River basin. Historically, they were present on the islands of Comoros, which lie between Madagascar and Mozambique, but no more. In more recent times, Nile crocodiles were present in Israel, Jordan, and Algeria. Their absence is blamed on an increasingly arid climate, and the corresponding reduction of their wetland habitat; diminutive (both in individual and in population size) remnant populations are known from Mauretania (Tagant Plateau, thought to be gone by 1996 but rediscovered in 1998 and 1999^[6]), Algeria and Chad (Guelta d'Archei). They are also no longer found in the Nile Delta, or along the nearby coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Their range nowadays corresponds roughly with the Afrotropic ecozone. The Sahara is the worlds second largest desert (second to Antarctica), over 9,000,000 km² (3,500,000 mi²), located in northern Africa and is 2. ... Kruger National Park is the largest game reserve in South Africa. ... River gorge in the Lapalala Wilderness, Waterberg, South Africa, showing horizontal sandstone layering. ... There is also Nile, a death metal band from South Carolina, USA. The Nile in Egypt Length 6 695 km Elevation of the source 1 134 m Average discharge 2 830 m³/s Area watershed 3 400 000 km² Origin Africa Mouth the Mediterranean Basin countries Uganda - Sudan - Egypt The... In general terms, the climate of a locale or region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. ... A subtropical wetland in Florida, USA, with an endangered American Crocodile. ... In Antiquity, Mauretania was originally an independent Berber kingdom on the Mediterranean coast of north Africa (named after the Maure tribe, after whom the Moors were named), corresponding to western Algeria, and northern Morocco. ... The Tagant Plateau lies in eastern Mauritania, forming a stony part of the Sahara Desert. ... The Guelta dArchei is probably the most famous guelta in the Sahara. ... NASA satellite photograph of the Nile Delta (shown in false colour) The Nile Delta (Arabic:دلتا النيل) is the delta formed in Northern Egypt where the Nile River spreads out and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. ... Mediterranean redirects here. ... The Afrotropic Ecozone is Africa south of the Sahara Desert. ...

Environmental status

From the 1940s to the 1960s, the Nile crocodile was hunted, primarily for high-quality leather, though also for meat and purported curative properties. The population was severely depleted, and the species faced extinction. National laws, and international trade regulations have resulted in a resurgence in many areas, and the species as a whole is no longer threatened with extinction. Crocodile 'protection programs' are artificial environments where crocodiles exist safely and without fear of extermination from hunters. A hunt is an activity during which humans or animals chase some prey, such as wild or specially bred animals (traditionally targeted species are known as game), in order to catch or kill them, either for food, sale, or as a form of sport. ... For people named Leather, see Leather (surname). ... For other uses, see Extinction (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Commerce be merged into this article or section. ...

There are an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 individuals in the wild. The Nile crocodile is also widely distributed, with strong, documented populations in many countries in east Africa, including Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia. Successful sustainable-yield programs focused on ranching crocodiles for their skins have been successfully implemented in this area, and even countries with quotas are moving toward ranching. In 1993, 80,000 Nile crocodile skins were produced, the majority from ranches in Zimbabwe and South Africa. This article is about a type of land use and method of raising livestock. ...

The situation is more grim in central and west Africa, which make up about two-thirds of the Nile crocodile's habitat. The crocodile population in this area is much more sparse, and has not been adequately surveyed. While the natural population of Nile crocodiles in these areas may be lower due to a less-than-ideal environment and competition with sympatric slender-snouted and dwarf crocodiles, extirpation may be a serious threat in some of these areas. Additional factors are a loss of wetland habitats, and hunting in the 1970s. Additional ecological surveys and establishing management programs are necessary to resolve this. Sympatry is one of three theoretical models for the phenomenon of speciation. ... Binomial name Cope, 1861 Range of the Dwarf Crocodile in green Subspecies Wermuth & Mertens (1961) (Schmidt (1919)) Wermuth & Mertens (1961) The Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis) is one of the three existing African species of crocodile. ...

The Nile crocodile is the top predator in its environment, and is responsible for checking the population of species like the barbel catfish, a predator that can overeat fish populations that other species, like birds, depend on. The Nile crocodile also consumes dead animals that would otherwise pollute the waters. The primary threat to Nile crocodiles, in turn, is people. While illegal poaching is no longer a problem, they are threatened by pollution, hunting, and accidental entanglement in fishing nets. Air pollution Pollution is the introduction of pollutants (whether chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat, or light) into the environment to such a point that its effects become harmful to human health, other living organisms, or the environment. ...

Much of the hunting stems from their reputation as a man-eater, which is not unjustified. Unlike other man-eating crocodiles, the Nile crocodile lives in close proximity to large human populations, so contact is more frequent. While there are no solid numbers, the Nile crocodile probably kills a couple of hundred persons a year, which is more than all the other crocodiles combined.

The Conservation Status of the Nile crocodile under the 1996 World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List is "Lower Risk" (Lrlc). The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) lists the Nile crocodile under Appendix I (threatened with extinction) in most of its range; and under Appendix II (not threatened, but trade must be controlled) in the remainder, which either allows ranching or sets an annual quota of skins taken from the wild. The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. ... The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between Governments, drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the World Conservation Union (IUCN). ...

In Myth

Sobek

The people of Ancient Egypt worshiped Sobek, a crocodile-god associated with fertility, protection, and the power of the Pharaoh.^[7] They had an ambivalent relationship with Sobek, as they did (and do) with the Nile crocodile; sometimes they hunted crocodiles and reviled Sobek, and sometimes they saw him as a protector and source of pharonic power. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Sobek (from the Temple of Kom Ombo) or Sebek, Sochet, Sobk, Sobki, Soknopais, and in Greek, Suchos) was the deification of crocodiles, and was originally a demon, as crocodiles were deeply feared in the nation so dependent on the Nile River. ... Khafres Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza, built about 2550 BC during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom,[1] are enduring symbols of the civilization of ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was a civilization in Northeastern Africa concentrated along the middle to lower reaches of the Nile River... Sobek (from the Temple of Kom Ombo) or Sebek, Sochet, Sobk, Sobki, Soknopais, and in Greek, Suchos) was the deification of crocodiles, and was originally a demon, as crocodiles were deeply feared in the nation so dependent on the Nile River. ... Look up deity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Fertility is the natural capability of giving life. ... For other uses, see Pharaoh (disambiguation). ...

Sobek was depicted as a crocodile, as a mummified crocodile, or as a man with the head of a crocodile. The center of his worship was in the Middle Kingdom city of Arsinoe in the Faiyum Oasis (now Al Fayyum), known as "Crocodopolis" by the Greeks. Another major temple to Sobek is in Kom-Ombo, and other temples were scattered across the country. This article is about the corpse preparation method, for other uses of Mummy see Mummy (disambiguation) An Egyptian mummy kept in the Vatican Museums. ... The Middle Kingdom is: a old name for China a period in the History of Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom of Egypt This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Arsinoe I of Egypt Arsinoe II of Egypt Arsinoe III of Egypt Arsinoe IV of Egypt Arsinoe of Greek mythology: Orestes nurse; mother of Asclepius Arsinoe, Egypt town of Arsinoe on Cyprus This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the... Al Fayyum or El Faiyûm (Arabic: الفيوم ) is the capital of Al Fayyum Governorate, Egypt. ... Sobek-Ra at the Temple of Kom Ombo Kom Ombo (كوم أمبو) (Coptic: Embo; Greek: Omboi, Ptol. ...

According to Herodotus in the 5th century BC, some Egyptians kept crocodiles as pampered pets. In Sobek's temple in Arsinoe, a crocodile was kept in the pool of the temple, where it was fed, covered with jewelry, and worshipped. When the crocodiles died, they were embalmed, mummified, placed in sarcophagi, and then buried in a sacred tomb. Many mummified crocodiles and even crocodile eggs have been found in Egyptian tombs. Herodotus of Halicarnassus (Greek: Hērodotos Halikarnāsseus) was a Greek historian from Ionia who lived in the 5th century BC (ca. ... Jewelry (the American spelling; spelled jewellery in Commonwealth English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ... A sarcophagus is a stone container for a coffin or body. ... For the New York prison see The Tombs. ...

Spells were used to appease crocodiles in Ancient Egypt, and even in modern times Nubian fishermen stuff and mount crocodiles over their doorsteps to ward against evil. This article refers to the magical system of Aleister Crowley and Thelema. ...

Alternate names

The Nile crocodile is called Mamba in Swahili, Garwe in Shona, Ngwenya in Ndebele, and Olom in a Nubian dialect. Swahili (also called Kiswahili; see Kiswahili for a discussion of the nomenclature) is an agglutinative Bantu language widely spoken in East Africa. ... ShonaThe word Shona is derived from the Ndebele word itshonalanga(where the sun set)(or ChiShona) is native language of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify those Bantu-language speaking peoples in Southern Africa who speak one of the Shona languages(dialects) namely Zezuru,Karanga... The Ndebele language, or isiNdebele, or Sindebele, is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the AmaNdebele (the Ndebele people). ... Nubia (not to be confused with Nuba, a collective term used for the peoples who inhabit the Nuba Mountains, in Kordofan province, Sudan, Africa) is the region in the south of Egypt, along the Nile and in northern Sudan. ...

The Nile crocodile is also known locally in many African countries as "flatdog".

The binomial name Crocodylus niloticus is derived from the Greek kroko ("pebble"), deilos ("worm", or "man"), referring to its rough skin; and niloticus, meaning "from the Nile River". This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Classification

Crocodiles are archosaurs; early forms split off from the rest of the reptiles about 200 Ma (million years ago), during the Triassic. Their closest living relatives are the only other surviving lineage of archosaurs: the birds. Like birds, they have gizzards and a four-chambered heart. Unlike birds, who are descended from dinosaurs, the basic crocodile body shape has changed very little over time. Clades Crurotarsi Aetosauria Crocodilia (crocodiles) Phytosauria Rauisuchia Ornithodira Aves (birds) Dinosauria Pterosauria Archosaurs (Greek for ruling lizards) are a group of diapsid reptiles that is represented today by birds and crocodiles and which also included the dinosaurs. ... Annum is a Latin noun meaning year. ... The Triassic is a geologic period that extends from about 251 ± 0. ... Duck gizzards The gizzard , also referred to as the ventriculus, gastric mill, and gigerium, is an organ in the digestive tract found in birds, reptiles, earthworms, some fish, and other creatures. ... Orders & Suborders Saurischia Sauropodomorpha Theropoda Ornithischia Thyreophora Ornithopoda Marginocephalia Dinosaurs were vertebrate animals that dominated the terrestrial ecosystem for over 160 million years, first appearing approximately 230 million years ago. ... The term morphology in biology refers to the outward appearance (shape, structure, colour, pattern) of an organism or taxon and its component parts. ...

Crocodylus niloticus covers a wide range, and there are significant differences between the various populations. However, there are no official subspecies though at least seven have been proposed: This article is about the zoological term. ...

• C. n. africanus: East African Nile crocodile
• C. n. chamses: West African Nile crocodile
• C. n. corviei: South African Nile crocodile
• C. n. madagascariensis: Malagasy Nile crocodile, Malagasy alligator, or Croco Mada
• C. n. niloticus: Ethiopian Nile crocodile
• C. n. pauciscutatus: Kenyan Nile crocodile, Kenyan alligator, or Kenyan caiman
• C. n. suchus: Central African Nile crocodile

See also

• Crocodile attacks

Nile crocodile Crocodile attacks of people are not uncommon in places where crocodiles are native. ...

References

1. ^ Somma, Louis A. (June 19, 2002). Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Retrieved July 14, 2006 from the USGS.
2. ^ Nile Crocodile. (n.d.). Retrieved December 16, 2004 from SeaWorld/Busch Gardens, Animal Bytes
3. ^ National Geographic documentary; "Bite Force", Brady Barr.
4. ^ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/csp_cnil.htm
5. ^ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0107/crocodiles2.html
6. ^ Shine, T. et al. 2001. Rediscovery of relict populations of the Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus in south-eastern Mauritania, with observations on their natural history. Oryx 35 (3), 260–262.
7. ^ Seawright, Caroline (2002-02-26). Sobek, God of Crocodiles, Power, Protection and Fertility.... Retrieved on 2007-03-17.

• Crocodile Specialist Group (1996). Crocodylus niloticus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern

• Britton, Adam. (n.d.). Crocodylus niloticus (Laurenti, 1768). Retrieved December 16, 2004 from Crocodilian Species List.

• El-Noshokaty, Amira. (January 17–23, 2002). Lord of the Nile. Al-Ahram Weekly On-line, 569. Retrieved December 16, 2004.

• Nile crocodiles: Temperature dependent sex determination. (February 2000). Pulse of the Planet, 2075. Retrieved December 16, 2004 from Pulse of the Planet.

• Ross, James Perran (ed.). (n.d.). Species Accounts: Crocodylus niloticus. December 16, 2004 from Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan, Second Edition: Crocodiles.

Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

External links

• Multimedia information from National Geographic Kids site