For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Crocodile

Determination of the sex in the embryo is influenced by outside temperature. Warmer weather is conducive to more female than male young being hatched.
Adult crocodiles do not have any natural enemies except man, but when born, they are preyed upon by Marabou stork, mongoose and eagles.
Body temperature is controlled through a membrane in the mouth. If they are seen lying with their mouths open, they are cooling themselves by allowing mucus fluids to evaporate.
They have seventy to seventy-five teeth, and their eyes are a yellow- green in color.
Crocodile can only mate in the water, the male positioning himself over the female, then curling his body under hers. The sexual act itself lasts only about a minute.
One of their purposes in nature is to control the amount of catfish in the rivers and streams. Without this control, rivers would soon be stripped of all vegetation without which, smaller fish, turtles etc. would not be able to survive.
A distance of up to twenty kilometers will be walked by them at night in search of another water hole or stream if their current one dries up.
Their favorite food is medium sized antelope which they kill by holding it underwater until it drowns and then they will break off large portions by shaking it about then swallow it hooves and all. One impala, for example, will keep them satisfied for about 4 weeks and so they will not hunt for anything else during that time.