The Nile Crocodile
adapted from Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop
Grade 3 Level Green
Ree Carroll
EME 6046
March 31, 2014
Habitat
The Nile crocodile lives in warmer parts of Africa. It must live near the water. The animal will die without it. The Nile crocodile might live in tranquil freshwater lakes. It might live in muddy, swampy rivers. It might live in a ditch. The Nile crocodile sometimes travels as far as 15 miles in search of water.
Nile crocodiles can live for short periods in salt water. Scientists think that at some point, they even swam across the channel that separates Madagascar from Africa. This would explain how this kind of crocodile came to live in Madagascar.
Behavior
The Nile crocodile is a cold-blooded animal. It depends on its surroundings to keep its body warm and cool. To warm up, it lies in the sun to absorb heat. To cool off, it moves into the shade or the water. It also opens it's mouth to let heat escape.
Diet
For some crocodiles, in the water for hours might seem tiresome. For the Nile crocodile, however, it's all in a day's work.
Unlike many animals that hunt on land, the Nile crocodile does not target mainly sick, lame, and weak animals. Instead, it waits to attack any animal that comes near. For example, a gazelle, a deer like animal that moves with grace, might wander over for a drink. It's elegant neck reaches down to the water. At that moment, the crocodile shoots out of the water. It grabs the gazelle with its huge jaws.
A Nile crocodile eats almost anything that it can catch. It enjoys fish. It eats small and large land animals. It will even eat other crocodiles!
Description
Most people don't get close enough to a Nile crocodile to inspect it. However, if you could take a close look, you would see strong feet and legs. The tail is very strong, too. It moves the crocodile through the water quickly. The tail is so powerful, in fact, that it can knock down a large animal.
The eyes and nostrils of this crocodile are on top of his head. This makes it easy for the crocodile to suspend its body under water and still see and breathe.
Tourists travel in boats to see Nile crocodiles. Both professional and amateur photographers have taken photographs of this fierce animal. Wise visitors know they must stay clear of its tail and mouth. If hungry, a Nile crocodile will take a bite out of almost anything ... or anyone!
- Can weigh over 2,000 pounds
- Can measure 20 feet in length
- Can eat half it's weight in one meal
- Cannot chew. It tips it's head up and swallows the food whole!