Crocodile swamp: description, dimensions, lifestyle, habitat

Crocodiles are the oldest animals, the only surviving representatives of the subclass Arhosaurs - a group of reptiles, including dinosaurs. It is assumed that their history began about 250 million years ago in the early Triassic, if we talk about all the crocodilomorphs. Representatives of the now existing detachment appeared a little later - about 83.5 million years ago. Now they are common in all countries with a hot tropical climate. The Indian crocodile is one of the three species inhabiting Hindustan and the adjoining territory, reptiles. This is a fairly large predator with a characteristic appearance.

What does a marsh crocodile look like?

Marsh crocodile in literary sources can often be found under the name of Mager, as well as Indian. Its appearance resembles that of an alligator. The coarse head has wide and heavy jaws, their length exceeds 1.5-2.5 times the width at the very base. There are no crests and outgrowths of scaly bones. On the neck there are 4 large plates, forming a square with smaller plates on each side. The dorsal spines are well separated from the occipital, the osteoderms are usually arranged in four rows, sometimes six. The central plates on the back may be wider than the lateral plates. The marsh crocodile is characterized by a keeled scales on the limbs and fingers that have membranes at the base. Color of individuals may vary slightly depending on age. Adult crocodiles, as a rule, have a dark olive color, and young - light olive with black spots and dots.

Dimensions of the marsh crocodile

Taking into account the size of all the representatives of the Crocodile squad, we can say with certainty that this species has average sizes. Sexual dimorphism is observed. Females about 2.45 m long are slightly smaller than males, which range from 3.2 to 3.5 m. Differences also affect body weight. The predominant number of individuals of both sexes, both young and adult, by weight fit into the range from 40 to 200 kg. Females are smaller and reach up to 50-60 kg, males are much larger and heavier - up to 200-250 kg.

Crocodile marsh (male) at a very mature age can be impressive in size. Rarely, but still there are cases when they grow more than 4.5 m in length and gain weight to 450 kg. The biggest officially registered indicator is about 5 m and 600 kg respectively.

Habitat

The marsh crocodile is named so for good reason. His favorite place of residence are shallow ponds with standing or slightly flowing fresh water. Mostly these are swamps, lakes, rivers and less often irrigation canals. Sometimes you can find a marsh crocodile in the lagoons with brackish water. Geographically the species is widespread in India, Pakistan, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Iran, Bangladesh, Nepal.

The population size in most areas is declining year by year and approaching the critical level. The main reason is the destruction of the natural habitat and the demographic problem of the region. To protect the swamp crocodile, India began as far back as 1975, creating a special program to increase the number of species. The largest population (over 2000 individuals) is in Sri Lanka.

Swamp Crocodile: Nutrition and Lifestyle

This species, like the Cuban crocodile, is better than all the rest of the detachment feels on land. It can move (migrate) for short distances and even briefly pursue its production by land, while developing a speed of more than 12 km / h, in its native environment (water), it rapidly increases to 30-40 km / h. In addition, the magers dig on land burrows in which they hide from the heat during a drought.

The basis of the diet of the Indian crocodile is fish, snakes, including pythons, birds, turtles, mammals of medium and small size (squirrels, otters, monkeys, deer, etc.). Large, adult individuals can fully hunt ungulate animals: Asian antelopes, Indian zambaras, buffaloes and gaurs. The crocodile marsh guarded them at the watering place and, grabbing the prey at the right moment, dragged it under the water, where it was then torn to pieces. At night, they hunt on land, along forest trails and can take away prey from other predators, for example in leopards.

The marsh crocodile uses a very interesting way of catching birds. This is one of the few reptiles that uses bait. He keeps on his muzzle small twigs and sticks that attract birds looking for building material for their nests. Tactics are especially important in the spring.

In general, the Indian crocodile is a social animal. They calmly tolerate each other's presence near the places of bathing, during feeding and hunting.

Interaction with other animals and humans

Adult individuals of the marsh crocodile, in fact, are on the top of the food chain. Therefore, as a rule, they are not attacked by other predators. Competition is only a larger, more aggressive and combed crocodile species. He prevents the settlement of the species in question and even sometimes hunts it.

Marsh crocodiles and tigers represent a certain danger to each other. As a rule, predators try to avoid meeting, but there were times when they entered into an open physical confrontation. Serious danger crocodile swamp represents a smaller leopard, which is often attacked.

Cases of predator attacks on people occasionally occur. It is quite large in size, aggressive and poses a certain threat to a person. However, it is not as dangerous as the related species: the Nile and the combed crocodiles.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity of females and males is attained at a size of 2.6 and 1.7-2 m in length, respectively. The reproduction period is in winter time. Eggs of the female are laid in previously nested in the sand nests. Cubs appear after 55-75 days, it is noteworthy that the factor determining the sex is the ambient temperature during incubation. If it is set within 32.5 ° C, then only males appear, than it is further from this figure, the more females. In the clutch of the marsh crocodile there are 25-30 eggs.