Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus

The Nile Crocodile is native to most water habitats in much of central, eastern and southern Africa, including Madagascar and part of West Africa where it appears to overlap with the West African Crocodile, Crocodylus suchus. Both these crocodiles are present in some countries, such as D.R. Congo and Uganda.

Considered one of the most aggressive and dangerous predators, including to man, the Nile Crocodile has one of the most powerful sustained bites in the animal kingdom, allowing it to drown much larger prey such as a wildebeest or zebra. Prey ranges from fish to large mammals.

Large males can grow up to nearly 6 metres (20 ft) long.

A female lays some 60 eggs in a hole on the bank which she covers and guards until they hatch. Lower temperatures hatch all females and higher temperatures hatch males.

The female will carry the hatchlings to the water by mouth and continue to guard them for some months.