Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

Nile Crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, photo © by Michael Plagens

Photographed at Nairobi National Park, Kenya. December 2014.

From Wikipedia: The second largest extant reptile in the world, after the saltwater crocodile. The Nile crocodile is quite widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the central, eastern, and southern regions of the continent and lives in different types of aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers and marshlands. Although capable of living in saline environments, this species is rarely found in saltwater, but occasionally inhabits deltas and brackish lakes. The range of this species once stretched northward throughout the Nile, as far north as the Nile delta. On average the Nile crocodile is between 4.1 metres to 5 metres, weighing around 410 kg. However, specimens measuring 6.1 metres in length and weighing 900 kg have been recorded. They have thick scaly skin that is heavily armored.

Crocodylidae -- Crocodile Family

More Information:


Kenya Natural History

Copyright Michael J. Plagens, page created 14 Aug. 2015