34 facts about crocodiles!

Crocodiles are very dangerous animals.

Crocodiles are very popular animals due to their skin. Let’s find out why, plus some more interesting facts about them!

1. Crocodiles are also called true crocodiles.
2. They are large semiaquatic reptiles.
3. Crocodiles belong in the Crocodilia order.
4. They live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia.
5. Crocodylinae, all of whose members are considered true crocodiles, belong in a biological subfamily.
6. Crocodiles are carnivores.
7. In the wild, they feast on fish, birds, frogs, and crustaceans.
8. When kept at the zoo, they eat small animals that have already been killed for them, such as rats, fish or mice.
9. When they are in the wild they prey with their massive jaws and crush their victim.
10. They swallow their whole prey (!)
11. Crocodiles swallow small stones that grind up the food in their stomachs.
12. Thanks to their slow metabolisms, crocodiles can survive for months without food.
13. About 100 million years ago, crocodiles were one of the top animals on the food chain. 
14. One of the largest known populations of American crocodiles is found in the Dominican Republic.
15. They can be found at a large saltwater lake called Lago Enriquillo.
16. They live in tropical places because they are cold-blooded and they can’t generate their own heat.
17. During colder days they usually hibernate.
18. To create a place to hibernate, they dig out a burrow in the side of the riverbank or lake and settle in for a long sleep.
19. Crocodiles lay 10 to 60 eggs at a time.
20. The hatchlings stay in their eggs for 55 to 110 days.
21. They don’t mature until they are 4 to 15 years.
22. They can live from 30 years up to 75 years.
23. Crocodiles are often confused with alligators, but they are different animals.
24. Alligator’s jaw has U shape.
25. Crocodiles don’t sweat.
26. To keep cool, they open their mouths in a process that is called “mouth gaping”.
27. Crocodiles DO cry.
28. Crocodile tears aren’t usually noticeable.
29. Their tears can be noticed if the croc has been out of the water for a while and the eyes begin to dry out.
30. There is a phrase about someone who is lying about his feelings and the phrase is “crocodile tears”.
31. It is illegal to hunt crocodiles for their skin.
32. This makes their skin very rare.
33. A purse made from crocodile skin can cost more than $10,000. 
34. Since they are in fashion for some reason, there are also many purses that look like they are made from crocodiles’ skin but they are not.