Did you spot the young crocodile in yesterday’s post (South African time)?
Here’s the reveal:
And a close-up photo of the basking reptile:
This is a young Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), a species found throughout Africa, and greatly feared by humans and wildlife alike. Some information from Wikipedia:
Generally, the adult male Nile crocodile is between 3.5 and 5 m (11 ft 6 in and 16 ft 5 in) in length and weighs 225 to 750 kg (496 to 1,653 lb). However, specimens exceeding 6.1 m (20 ft) in length and 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) in weight have been recorded. It is the largest predator in Africa, and may be considered the second-largest extant reptile in the world, after the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Size is sexually dimorphic, with females usually about 30% smaller than males. The crocodile has thick, scaly, heavily armoured skin.
Nile crocodiles are opportunistic apex predators; a very aggressive crocodile, they are capable of taking almost any animal within their range. They are generalists, taking a variety of prey, with a diet consisting mostly of different species of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. As ambush predators, they can wait for hours, days, and even weeks for the suitable moment to attack. They are agile predators and wait for the opportunity for a prey item to come well within attack range. Even swift prey are not immune to attack. Like other crocodiles, Nile crocodiles have a powerful bite that is unique among all animals, and sharp, conical teeth that sink into flesh, allowing a grip that is almost impossible to loosen. They can apply high force for extended periods of time, a great advantage for holding down large prey underwater to drown.
Oy!
This one was small—less than a foot long, I’d guess—and was hard to spot among the rocks, both being gray in color. It was pointed out by our guide on a river trip, and was taken from a moving boat.
The croc is young and still subject to predation. I hope it make it to adulthood!
Good find. He’s pretty camouflaged amongst the rocks there and so small! He still *looks* cute, but that’s a fierce description… I’d maintain my distance.
Comment by Greg Mayer
From the closeup photo (nice!), I’d say it’s 2-2.5 feet long. Crocodilians are very cute when they hatch– a colleague and I once developed a “cuteness” index based on various measure of head shape– but they become less cute as they grow, as do we all! This one’s cuteness I estimate as making him more than a year old. They are nearly a foot long at hatching.
The crocs in Kruger National Park are supposed to be especially large, so I’m hoping Jerry gets to see (and photograph for us) some big ones in addition to this little fellow!
GCM
I certainly don’t wish any harm on the young croc. However, wishing that it makes it to adulthood essentially means wishing that any number of other creatures either don’t make it to adulthood or die younger than they would have. I prefer to be neutral.