Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

An apex predator unchanged in form for 200 million years, the Nile crocodile pairs ferocious hunting with surprisingly tender parental care — mothers guard nests for months and carry hatchlings gently to water in their jaws.

Lifecycle stages

Stage 1

Egg

Females bury 25–80 hard-shelled eggs in sandy riverbanks. Sex is determined by incubation temperature: 31–34°C produces males.

~90 days

Stage 2

Hatchling

Chirping hatchlings call their mother from the nest. She transports them to a nursery pool, where both parents guard the crèche for up to 2 years.

0–2 years

Stage 3

Juvenile

Young crocodiles feed on insects, frogs, and small fish. Growth is rapid in warm months but slows during cooler, drier periods.

2–10 years

Stage 4

Sub-adult

Growing sub-adults take larger fish and small mammals. Dominance hierarchies emerge around basking sites and feeding locations.

10–15 years

Stage 5

Adult

Large adults hunt wildebeest and buffalo at water crossings. Males defend territories vigorously during the dry-season breeding period.

45–100 years

Max length

6 metres

Sexual maturity

12–16 years

Clutch size

25–80 eggs

Conservation status — Least Concern

Populations recovered after near-extinction from 1950s–70s hide hunting. Current threats include wetland drainage, persecution near fishing communities, and river system pollution.