A Crocodile's Natural Habitat
Crocodiles are reptiles that belong to the taxonomic genus Crocodylidae. They are large aquatic animals that predominantly live in freshwater sources. They are found on five of the continents and all species are carnivorous, eating a range of prey from birds and fish to mammals and invertebrates, such as crustaceans.
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Environment
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Most crocodile species live in freshwater habitats, such as rivers, lakes, lagoons and wetlands. Certain species, notably the saltwater crocodile of Australia and Asia, will habituate brackish water (water with a salinity between that of freshwater and seawater) on coastlines as they have a special gland on their tongues that enables them to rid their bodies of excess salt. Crocodiles can be territorial, living solitary lives except for periods of mating, and may remain in their home water source even if dries up in a drought. However, they will gather in large groups if food is abundant.
Range
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Crocodiles live in tropical areas in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The American species live in southern Florida, southern Mexico and Central and South America. In Africa, they are predominantly situated in sub-Saharan areas, particularly the freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps of the Nile basin. The Australian species is found in the northeast of the country, while in Asia, they are found across the continent, including China, India, Cambodia and Indonesia.
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Saltwater
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In Australia, the crocodiles are able to tolerate a high degree of salinity and will habituate tidal estuaries and brackish stretches of water along the coasts. They will also swim out to sea in order to search for suitable habitats further along the coast, away from competitors.
Behavior
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Being cold-blooded, crocodiles are unable to internally regulate their body temperature. Thus, they must use the sun to warm their blood and provide them with energy. They favor a habitat that provides flat areas of land, such as mud banks, on which to bask, with direct access to a water source in order to hunt. Crocodiles will swim or walk along the bottom of a water source looking for prey, which ranges from fish and crustaceans for smaller species, to large mammals, such as antelope and wildebeest for the biggest species, like the Nile crocodile, and are capable of remaining submerged for up to an hour.
Threat
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Destruction of habitat is a major threat to many species of crocodile. National Geographic reports that scientists believe that the American crocodile is now critically endangered throughout its range in North, South and Central America. Human encroachment into wilderness areas, combined with illegal hunting, is cited as the primary cause.
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References
- Photo Credit crocodile image by Henryk Olszewski from Fotolia.com
