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More About Crocodiles ...
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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). The term is also used more loosely to include all members of the order Crocodylia: that is, the true crocodiles; the alligators and caymans (family Alligatoridae); and the Gharial (family Gavialidae).
The crocodiles, often just called crocs, are 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. Some species, notably the Saltwater Crocodile of Australia and the Pacific islands, have been know to venture far out to sea.
Contrary to popular belief, only three species of crocodile (the Saltwater, the Mugger and the Nile) and one of alligator (the nearly-extinct Black Caimen) have been known to stalk or attack human beings for food. Large specimens of these four are extremely dangerous. Saltwater Crocodiles in northern Australia take careless tourists on a regular but rare basis, once every few years.
Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water. They have extremely powerful jaws and razor-sharp teeth for tearing flesh, but cannot open their mouth if it is held closed, hence there are stories of people escaping from the long-snouted Nile Crocodile by holding its jaws shut. All large crocodiles also have sharp and powerful claws. Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close, then attacking with a rush. As cold-blooded predators, they can survive long periods without food, and rarely need to actively go hunting. Despite their slow appearance, crocodiles are top-level predators in their chosen environment, and various species have been observed attacking and killing lions, large ungulates and even sharks.
The largest species of crocodile is the Saltwater Crocodile, found in northern Australia and throughout South-east Asia. It is the largest reptile currently living on Earth. Confusingly, in northern Australia the Saltwater Crocodile is sometimes called an "alligator", which it is not, and the smaller Freshwater Crocodile called a "crocodile". This is possibly because the long-snouted Freshwater Crocodile or "freshie" does look a bit like a miniature Nile Crocodile, while in comparison the "saltie" could be said to look like the far less dangerous American Alligator. So the Alligator Rivers in the Northern Territory are in fact named after the Saltwater Crocodile. This is why some northern Australians will claim that alligators, not crocodiles, are the dangerous ones.
Crocodiles in the wild are protected in Australia and many other parts of the world, but they also are farmed commercially, and their hide is tanned into leather and used to make handbags, boots, and the like, while crocodile meat is considered a delicacy by connoisseurs.
ORDER CROCODYLIA
Family Crocodylidae
American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus
Slender-snouted Crocodile, Crocodylus cataphractus
Orinoco Crocodile, Crocodylus intermedius
Freshwater Crocodile, Crocodylus johnstoni
Philippine Crocodile, Crocodylus mindorensis
Morelet's Crocodile, Crocodylus moreletii
Nile Crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus
New Guinea Crocodile, Crocodylus novaeguineae
Mugger Crocodile or Marsh Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris
Saltwater Crocodile, Crocodylus porosus
Cuban Crocodile, Crocodylus rhombifer
Siamese Crocodile, Crocodylus siamensis
Dwarf Crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis
False Gharial, Tomistoma schlegelii
Family Alligatoridae: alligators and caymens
Family Gavialidae: Gavial
The Crocodile (Krokodil in Afrikaans) is the name of a river in South Africa. The city of Nelspruit is situated on this river.
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Taxonmony
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodylia
Family: Crocodylidae
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Crocodiles
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VIDEO CLIPS
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Crocodile
31.220MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Ecosystems of Costa Rica and Panama (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
An American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) slowly slides down the bank of the Tempisque River in Palo Verde National Park. It is low tide. The croc has a food item in its mouth!
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Crocodile
8.290MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Ecosystems of Costa Rica and Panama (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
A large crocodile (3-4 meters in length). Palo Verde National Park.
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Crocodile
10.910MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Ecosystems of Costa Rica and Panama (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
Check out the color, wonderful anatomy, and design of the crocodile body form. The armored dorsal surface (the back) is virtually impenetrable. Palo Verde National Park.
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Crocodile
30.880MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Ecosystems of Costa Rica and Panama (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
This large Crocodile does a "Roll" to avoid contact. Palo Verde National Park.
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Crocodile
25.430MB MOV View Movie
Tropical Ecosystems of Costa Rica and Panama (R. Hays Cummins, Miami University)
A Potpourri of crocodile activities from Palo Verde National Park.
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Crocodile
Streaming RM View Movie
PBS
The Crocodile: A True Survivor. A video clip with narrative.
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Nile Crocodile
Streaming RAM View Movie
National Geographic - Creature Feature Archive
Check out their teeth! Video of Nile Crocodile. "Although Nile crocodiles are imposing they resemble armored tanks with huge, teeth-filled mouths these reptiles are unusually attentive parents".
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Crocodile
MOV View Movie
The Global Coalition for peace, education and cultural awareness
Bird comes close to a crocodile and walks away, Belize
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Orinoco Crocodile
0.770MB MOV View Movie
Hato Piñero
Orinoco Crocodile
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Orinoco Crocodile
1.070MB MOV View Movie
Hato Piñero
Orinoco Crocodile attacks a cayman
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Australian Freshwater Crocodile
0.600MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
Australian freshwater crocodile performing the "high walk" style of locomotion. This particular gait (walking style) is unique to the crocodilians.
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Australian Freshwater Crocodile
0.380MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
Australian freshwater crocodile galloping towards the water. No other reptile has the ability to move in this manner.
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Australian Freshwater Crocodile
0.210MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
You can see the bounding leap employed by the crocodile to jump over obstacles and get to the water as fast as possible.
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Australian Freshwater Crocodile
0.380MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
Australian freshwater crocodile galloping towards the water. This crocodile is using the gallop to escape from danger into the water.
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Saltwater Crocodile
0.600MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
This is an interesting sequence which shows just how fast a crocodile in the water can move.
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Saltwater Crocodile
0.250MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
Australian saltwater crocodile jumping out of the water towards a piece of meat. In order to "jump", the crocodile angles its body so that the tail is underneath the body, and the head is pointing up into the air. Then with vigorous thrusts of the tail, together with a treading action with the back feet, the crocodile literally swims upwards and launches itself out of the water.
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Saltwater Crocodile
0.520MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
These two mature adult male saltwater crocodiles have been displaying to each other for several minutes. Subtle changes in body posture, tail angle, head angle, and other visual and chemical signals are used during territorial confrontations.
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Saltwater Crocodile
0.230MB MPG View Movie
Crocodilian Biology Database
This video shows an Australian saltwater crocodile (sub-adult) opening its eye. What makes it particularly interesting is the nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, which sweeps across the eye as it opens.
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Crocodile
0.000MB MOV View Movie
Getty Images
Crocodile leaps and grabs Thomson's gazelle in jaws, other gazelles run away
If you don't see the relevant video below, please follow this link and search for 582-75 in the search screen.
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Crocodile
MOV View Movie
OceanFootage.com
Crocodile Swimming In River
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Crocodile
MOV View Movie
OceanFootage.com
Saltwater Crocodile In Mangroves
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Crocodile
MOV View Movie
OceanFootage.com
Crocodile Feeding Dangerously Close
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Crocodile
MOV View Movie
OceanFootage.com
Jumping Crocodile
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Crocodile
MOV View Movie
OceanFootage.com
Crocodile Swims Toward Camera
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Crocodile
0.710MB MOV View Movie
Creatas
Crocodile killing gazelle
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Crocodile
1.070MB MOV View Movie
Creatas
Crocodile eating gazelle
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Crocodile
0.310MB MOV View Movie
Creatas
Crocodiles feeding in water
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Crocodile
2.860MB MOV View Movie
HD/DV Cuts
Crocodile on Log in River
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Crocodile
MPG View Movie
Hypervision
Crocodile Handling
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Crocodile
MPG View Movie
Hypervision
Dundee's Crocodiles
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Crocodile
MPG View Movie
Down under Tour
Jaws!
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Crocodile
MPG View Movie
Down under Tour
Jaws!
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American Crocodile
View Movie
National Geographic
American Crocodiles
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Nile Crocodile
View Movie
National Geographic
Croc's Breakfast
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Saltwater Crocodile
View Movie
National Geographic
Boy Croc Meets Girl Croc
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