West African Crocodile

The binomial name Crocodylus niloticus is derived from the Greek κρόκη, kroke ("pebble"), δρῖλος, drilos ("worm"), referring to its rough skin; and niloticus, meaning "from the Nile River".

• Singular: crocodile

• Plural: crocodiles

The largest crocodile in Africa and one of the biggest reptiles on Earth is the Nile crocodile. Adults are often between 4 and 4.5 m (13 and 15 ft) long, although very giant males can grow up to 6 m (20 ft), with even greater claims. Compared to females, males are noticeably larger. The crocodile's main physical characteristics are a long, muscular tail for swimming, short but powerful legs with webbed toes, a long head with strong jaws, and armored skin with thick scales and bony plates (osteoderms/scutes) on the back. This species can remain mostly submerged while seeing above the surface because its eyes, ears, and nose are high on the head.

The Nile crocodile's coloring is often olive-bronze, gray-green, or dark brown on top and paler yellowish or cream on the underside. Juveniles frequently have more pronounced dark banding and spots than adults. To put it briefly, the atmosphere would be similar if a knight from the Middle Ages turned into a submarine.

The West African crocodile (Crocodylus suchus) was eventually identified as a distinct species from the Nile crocodile, which had long been associated with some populations in western Africa. The Nile crocodile has cousins with their own documentation, thus it is not "the crocodile of all Africa."

The swimming abilities of Nile crocodiles are remarkable. They move their tails side to side to propel themselves, and they bring their legs up against their bodies to cut down on drag. For effective aquatic movement, their physique is highly adapted. Their aquatic adaptations include a powerful tail that serves as their primary engine, webbed feet for steering and maneuvering, closed nostrils that allow them to submerge without breathing in water, eyes, ears, and nose high on the skull for stealth surveillance, and pressure-sensitive pits surrounding their jaws that help them detect movement and ripples in murky or dark water.

On land, Nile crocodiles are capable of belly-sliding, walking high on all four legs, and, in extreme cases, galloping short distances. Generally speaking, they are designed for ambush predation, explosive short-range acceleration, crushing grip, drowning huge prey, and "death roll" behavior to acquire leverage in water or tear apart prey. The senses are excellent in identifying prey at night or dusk, detecting water vibrations, and keeping an eye out for movement along shorelines. They are patient, sensory-guided ambush experts, not "dumb river logs."

In Rapunzel's universe, Nile crocodiles utilize their light yellow-colored fangs to pierce energy and bite their adversary. These crocodiles use the Sixth Sense to envelope their bodies with water, which launches them into the air like a rocket before slamming into their opponent to stun and soak.

An important biological force in freshwater habitats in Africa, the Nile crocodile is an apex predator. As crocodiles, they play an ecological role in controlling fish, bird, and mammal populations; eliminating weak, ill, or negligent creatures; and scavenging carrion to help clean waterways. As they become older, their nutrition alters. While adults consume fish, water birds, reptiles, mammals, and carrion, hatchlings or juveniles consume insects, crustaceans, snails, tadpoles, small fish, and frogs. They take advantage of opportunities.

There are very few predators for large, healthy adult Nile crocodiles, making them the top predators. However, mongooses, baboons, large birds, fish, and other crocodiles can harm eggs and hatchlings. Depending on the area and ecosystem, monitor lizards and other nest raiders may also pose a threat. In certain situations, large fish, large birds, larger crocodiles, and mammalian carnivores may hunt on their juveniles or smaller crocodiles. 

Reproduction

Nile crocodiles reproduce sexually, and courtship and mating happen in the water. Crocodilian courtship can include posture changes, touch, vocalizations, and likely chemical signals.

• Breeding season: Usually during the wet or summer season

• Sexual maturity

  • Approximate patterns:

    • Females: can mature once they exceed around 2 m

  • Males: usually mature later and at larger sizes

• Nesting

  • The female:

    • Digs or uses a burrow nest in sand/soil near water

    • Lays a clutch of eggs (often dozens, sometimes up to ~80)

    • Covers the nest and guards it

• Parenting

  • When hatchlings are ready:

    • They often vocalize from inside the eggs

    • The mother may help uncover the nest

    • She may transport babies to water

    • Young often stay near the mother for a period after hatching

    • For a giant armored predator, crocodile parenting is surprisingly attentive.

Nile crocodiles frequently live alone, particularly while they are hunting. However, they might congregate at rich feeding zones, nesting places, or basking spots. In order to control their body temperature, crocodiles typically sunbathe throughout the day. At night and in the evening, they are more active for hunting. Crocodilians' social structures can exhibit dominance hierarchies, competition for nesting or territorial space, and competition for basking sites. They are neither mindless lone machines nor "social" like wolves or elephants.

It is inappropriate to think of Nile crocodiles as friendly to humans. They are able to distinguish routine from threat more accurately than most people realize, be tolerant in some repetitive, non-threatening situations, and become accustomed to persons in their immediate vicinity. However, in the human sense, that is not friendship. It's important to note that the Nile crocodile has one of the worst reputations among crocodilians for attacking humans; hundreds of human deaths are reported annually, and there may be underreporting in some rural regions. Attacks frequently occur close the water's edge, fishing spots, restrooms, and boat entry and departure ports.

Threats

• Habitat loss

• Wetland conversion for agriculture

• Retaliatory killing after attacks on livestock or people

• Poisoning

• Water pollution

• Historical overhunting for skins, meat, and trophies

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern (LC)

Conservation Efforts

• Protected areas

• Nest protection

• Wetland conservation

• Community coexistence programs

• Trade regulation and anti-poaching efforts

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade

The Nile crocodile can be found in Madagascar as well as a large portion of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in eastern and southern Africa. Although it is not restricted to the Nile, it is connected to it. Rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes, freshwater wetlands, and occasionally brackish water are their primary habitats. Permanent water, basking banks, nesting places with sand or soft soil, and consistent access to prey are typically their preferred habitats. It's perfect crocodile territory if there's warm water, fish, shoreline traffic, and bad antelope scheduling.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: 

  • Earth: 0

  • Reinachos (2700-recent): 240

  • Sawintir: 3,000

• Locomotion: Amphibious

• Habitat: Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Sky; Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Radiated Citadel; Volcano; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Angola; Botswana; Burundi; Cameroon; Congo; DR Congo; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Gabon; Kenya; Madagascar; Malawi; Mozambique; Namibia; Rwanda; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; North Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe

Generally speaking, it was a horrible idea to tame crocodiles in our universe. The good news ends there. People want them because they look "cool," hatchlings are little, and they appear easier than big crocodilians. A caiman may grow accustomed to routine, but it is still a wild ambush predator, which is why they make bad pets. Even a "small" crocodile requires safe housing, deep water, basking spaces, heat gradients, UVB and appropriate lighting (if inside), heavy filtration, a lot of cleaning work, and escape-proof containment because they outgrow casual setups. Crocodiles can cause harm to humans; even young ones can bite someone badly, and adults can do much worse.

To tame crocodiles, survivors must steal an egg in Earth Responsibly universe. The newborns must be fed any kind of milk, which can be obtained from a number of sources, once these eggs hatch. Because the survivor is always within 17 radii of the hatching egg, crocodile hatchlings are tamed as soon as they hatch from an egg. flesh, corpse, fish flesh, and seaweed-wrapped meat can all be used to tame crocodiles if they haven't already. 

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• It is among the second largest crocodilian species on Earth.

• It can stay almost fully submerged with just eyes, ears, and nostrils exposed.

• The sex of hatchlings depends on nest temperature.

• It is both a hunter and scavenger.

• Hatchlings often call from inside the egg, and the mother can respond.

• Crocodilians are more closely related to birds than to lizards or snakes.

• Large crocodiles can survive by being patient far more often than by being fast.

• A basking crocodile with its mouth open is usually cooling itself, not necessarily “smiling.”

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_crocodile

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/45433088/3010181

• https://www.britannica.com/animal/Nile-crocodile

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Nile-Crocodile-1183870110