Savanna · Reptile

Nile crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

The Nile crocodile is Africa's largest reptile. It waits motionless at the water's edge, then strikes at lightning speed when prey comes to drink.

Yaman scale

Drawn side by side with Yaman, to the same scale.

Length3Yamans

Nile crocodile: length 4.5 m — that's 3 times Yaman's height.

Weight14Yamans

Around 488 kg — as heavy as 14 Yamans.

Where does the Nile crocodile live?: Rivers and lakes of sub-Saharan Africa. In our zoo it lives in the Savanna zone.
What does the Nile crocodile eat?: It is a carnivore: it eats meat.
How big does the Nile crocodile get?: Length: 4.5 m. It weighs 225–750 kg.
How long does the Nile crocodile live?: 50–80 years in the wild.
Is the Nile crocodile endangered?: On the IUCN Red List it is listed as least concern. Plenty of them in the wild.

The mother guards her eggs and carries the hatchlings to the water in her mouth.
After a big meal it can go for months without eating.
It swallows stones that help grind up food and keep it balanced in the water.

Least concern. Plenty of them in the wild.

IUCN Red List