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Nile Crocodile

Nile crocodile is a species of crocodile found extensively in large parts of Africa. It is considered the second largest reptile in the world, second only to the saltwater crocodile. Like other crocodile species, it is lethargic and spends long hours basking. The species possess a rich vocal range and good hearing ability.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Superorder	Crocodylomorpha
Order	Crocodilia
Family	Crocodylidae
Genus	Crocodylus
Scientific Name	Crocodylus niloticus

Other Names	Mamba, Garwe, Ngwenya, African Crocodile, Ethiopian Crocodile
Size	3.5 and 5 m; largest recorded specimen measured 6.45 m
Weight	225 to 750 kg; largest recorded specimen weighed around 1090 kg
Color	Dark bronze above with faded blackish spots and stripes appearing variably across the back; shabby off-yellow on the belly while the flanks are yellowish-green with dark oblique stripe patches appearing in highly variable patterns
Distribution	Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt, Uganda, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa, Malawi, Gabon, Sudan, Botswana, Mozambique, Cameroon
Habitat	Rivers, lakes, marshes, dams, preferring broad waterbodies than smaller ones
Diet	Mainly fish, but also feed on zebras, small hippos, birds, porcupines, other crocodiles, carrion
Hibernation Fact	Undergoes aestivation
Breeding Season	Dry season
Mode of Reproduction	Oviparous (egg laying)
Clutch Size	25 to 80 eggs
Incubation Period	Around 3 months
Reproductive Age	12 to 16 years of age
Average Lifespan	Around 45 years
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern