Species · GBIF taxon 2441341
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticusAlso known as Common Crocodile, African Crocodile, Black Crocodile
Nile crocodiles are formidable apex predators of Africa's waterways, capable of reaching lengths of up to six meters. These highly social reptiles coordinate group hunts to corral migrating fish, yet they display surprisingly tender maternal care by carrying their hatchlings to the water inside their massive jaws. During dry seasons, they dig deep riverbank burrows to aestivate, waiting out the extreme heat until the seasonal rains return.
Apex PredatorSemi-aquaticReptile
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Blue wildebeest
- Tigerfish
- Waterbirds
Predators
- Lions
- Nile monitor lizards (egg predator)
- Hippopotamuses
ThreatsHabitat destruction, water pollution, hunting for leather, and human-wildlife conflict
HabitatsRivers, lakes, swamps, marshlands, and brackish estuaries
Life span70 to 100 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCrocodylidae
- SpeciesCrocodylus niloticus
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Extremely dangerous apex predator; maintain a safe distance of at least 50 meters from the water's edge.
- Why it is dangerous
- Capable of launching lightning-fast ambush attacks from beneath the water surface, dragging prey under to drown.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for armored, olive-green to grey bodies, a long tapered snout, and eyes and nostrils protruding above the water.
- What to do
- Never approach, feed, or attempt to handle; back away immediately if one is spotted on land or near the shore.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Never approach the water's edge in known crocodile habitats.
- Avoid Nighttime Water: Do not swim, wade, or camp near water after dark when they are most active.
- Watch for Slides: Look for smooth, muddy slides on riverbanks indicating active crocodile entry points.
Egg Predator Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor Muhammad Mahdi Karim / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Prey Bernard Dupont / CC BY-SA 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Close Relative (c) Atamari, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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