By Obiabin Onukwugha
Crocodiles are large reptiles that inhabit the tropics of the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Asia. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes alligators, caimans, and gharials.
Crocodiles are semi-aquatic and live in wetland areas, freshwater rivers or lakes, or saltwater, residing in estuaries, lagoons, or mangrove swamps rather than far out at sea. Crocodiles are extremely fast in the water, swimming up to 35 kilometres per hour (22 mph). They can also ‘belly run’ up to 17 kilometres per hour (11 mph) for short distances.
Igbos call it “Enwe,” Yorubas call it “Ooni,” and Hausas call it “Kada.” It is said that Kaduna State, North Central Nigeria, got its name from ” Kada.” Kaduna is the plural of Kada and was so named because the state has many crocodiles in its waters.
Crocodiles are semiaquatic and tend to congregate in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and sometimes in brackish and saltwater. However, Europe is the only continent on which they don’t natively live.
Known as aggressive ambush predators, crocodiles wait for their prey to venture close to their hiding position before rushing to attack. They are carnivores that mostly prey on reptiles, birds, and fish, including young weaklings of their own species. Crocodiles are mainly nocturnal and have excellent night vision. Their sense of smell and hearing are also extremely well-developed.
Crocodiles have relatively weak jaw-opening muscles, which can be held shut with just a rubber band or your bare hands, enabling scientists to study them closer. It is said that to keep cool, crocodiles open their mouths, which is known as “mouth gaping,” which is very similar to panting.
These massive amphibious creatures have between 60-110 teeth. According to researchers, when a crocodile loses a tooth, there is a small replacement already on standby and they are able to replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times over their lifespan. So they are not displaying aggression when you see them with their mouths wide open! They often sleep with their mouths wide open to release heat.
There are 14 species of crocodiles, which vary in lifespan between 35 to 75 years, and considerably in size.
Crocodiles swallow small stones (known as ‘gastroliths’) from time time which is especially beneficial for them when they eat their prey whole, or for tougher animals with shells and bones. It is said that the small stones in their system aid in digesting such food.
Crocodiles shed tears while eating, which gave rise to the adage “shedding crocodile tears.” However, studies have shown that crocodiles eyes do water while they eat, not with remorse but for biological reasons, due to the hisses and huffs during feeding.
Crocodiles can go for a whole year without food. In extreme circumstances, they are able to shut down and live off their own tissue for a long period of time.
These animals can reproduce by using the process of parthenogenesis (that is, the development of an offspring without fertilization). All crocodiles lay hard-shelled eggs, which may weigh 50–160 grams (0.1–0.4 pound) each. A female lays an average of 12–48 eggs per nest, depending upon her age, size, and species.
How the crocodile got its hard skin
According to a Namibian oral tradition folktale, the crocodile originally had a beautiful smooth golden skin, and it stayed that way because the crocodile would spend all day in the muddy waters and only come out at night.
During the day all the other animals would come and admire it’s beautiful golden skin.
The crocodile became very proud of its skin and started coming out of the water to bask in the other animals’ admiration, even while the sun was shining.
He begin thinking he was better than the other animals and started bossing them around.
The other African animals became bored with his change in attitude and fewer and fewer started showing up to look at his skin.
But each day that the crocodile exposed his skin to the hot African sun, it would get uglier and bumpier and thicker, and was soon transformed into what looked like bulging armour.
Crocodile never recovered from the humiliating shame and even today will disappear from view when others approach, with only his eyes and nostrils above the surface of the water.