The plant and animal worlds of our planet are unique. There are microscopic representatives of the fauna that cannot be examined without a microscope, but there are very large ones that pose a real danger to humans. One of these is the combed crocodile.
Brief description of the reptile
This is one of the largest animals of the crocodile order. Some representatives of the species can reach a length of 7 meters, although this is rare, the average animal size is 4-5 meters. Females - even less, no more than 3 meters. The weight of large individuals can reach 1 ton, ordinary representatives of this species - from 500 to 600 kilograms.
This crocodile, along with poisonous snakes, is assigned to the group of mammals that could survive to our times.
Scientific and folk epithets
In Latin, this species of crocodile sounds like porosus and translates as "nostril." Indeed, old individuals on the face have multiple mounds, hence the name.
In Russian, the term “combed crocodile” is used. This name is given because of the presence of two powerful ridges in a mammal.
The people apply to reptiles many different names that characterize the way of life: "cannibal", "marine", "underwater".
Habitat
The combed crocodile has the largest range of all species. This can be explained by the fact that the reptile swims perfectly.
The animal is found on almost all coasts of Southeast Asia, in northern Australia, in Sri Lanka and in India, even in Vietnam (central part).
Most of all, this crocodile has chosen the coast of Australia, the island of Papua New Guinea. And in the Seychelles, the mammal was completely destroyed. Sometimes a reptile swims even on the southern coast of Japan.
By the way, in the animated film "Octonauts", the combed crocodile and his life are very well displayed, so that children can learn a lot of interesting information.
What does an animal look like?
The muzzle of this species of crocodiles is somewhat different from other representatives. It is wider, the head itself is quite large and has a very massive jaw. With age, the upper part of the muzzle of the reptile is covered with tubercles and deep wrinkles.
The main distinguishing feature is the crests around the eyes, which are supposedly designed to protect the eyes from shock. There are special flashing membranes in front of our eyes so that the animal can watch under water.
Young individuals have a tan color, pale, with pronounced spots and stripes of black color. Over the years, spots and stripes become less pronounced. Depending on the habitat, reptiles may be lighter or darker.
The abdomen has no stripes; it can be white or yellow. Bottom of the tail is gray, with darker stripes.
The scales are oval and relatively small, rare, which gives more opportunities for active and fast movement under water.
The tail of a large combed crocodile is the longest of all representatives of the crocodile. In length, it is about 55% of the total body length.
The jaws of the animal are massive, the teeth are conical in shape from 64 to 68, sharp and long, ideal for washing away thick skin.
View Features
The heart of the reptile has 4 chambers, with a special valve that allows you to mix arterial and venous blood. This allows him to breathe under water for 5 minutes, but, if necessary, may linger there for 30 minutes. And if there is no active physical activity, then it can hold out under water for up to 2 hours in a row.
Slow metabolism lasts for a long time without food. Even babies who have just hatched can do without food for about 58 days.
Crocodile brain is only 0.05% of the total mass. However, it has a complex structure and resembles an avian brain. Therefore, the reptile is capable of learning, can remember the ways of prey migration. Also, these crocodiles are characterized by a wider range of sounds, and they use a complex body language.
This reptile species has the strongest jawbite that has ever been measured in animals. Even if we omit the calculated values and proceed to practice, then the strength of the bite was measured in one zoo. The test individual weighed 531 kilograms, and was 4.59 meters long. The strength of the bite of this individual was 1675 kilograms. Although earlier, in another zoo, the Nile 5-meter crocodile showed even better results - 2268 kilograms.
Crocodile and tears
The osmoregulation of the combed crocodile is no different from other species living in sea water. In the presence of a keratinized epithelium of the oral cavity and salt glands. An adult, without prejudice to health, can spend several months in sea water. In this case, the crocodile, under no circumstances, will not use salt water. In such periods, the body starts the process of minimizing moisture loss, and the animal receives water from food.
How a reptile lives
The main feature of the sea combed crocodile is that it can live in salt water and go to the open sea. These reptiles are also capable of crowding out their food competitors, even such as tiger sharks.
Modern technologies have made it possible to conduct an interesting study; satellite sensors were installed on the bodies of 20 individuals. As a result, it turned out that 8 out of 20 experimental subjects went to the open ocean and after 25 days they sailed 590 kilometers.
While moving in water, the animal presses its paws to the body, and moves due to the wave-like movements of the tail. If the reptile does not chase prey, then it reaches 4.8 km / h, while chasing “food” it develops a speed of 29 km / h and higher.
On land, movement is carried out creeping, very rarely the reptile rises on its paws or tears off its stomach from the surface of the earth. Crocodile's paws are not well adapted to land, so it avoids small and swampy places.
The animal’s lifestyle is typical enough for any predator. One crocodile controls a certain territory and protects its borders from their own kind. It hunts mainly with the onset of twilight.
Diet
Crocodiles of this species are very voracious and eat almost everything that is of organic origin. From small frogs to large artiodactyls, including livestock.
