What are the adaptations,features and habitats of crocodile
Answers
Answer:
Crocodilians are the closest surviving relatives of the great dinosaurs. They have changed very little during the 150 million years that they have lived on Earth.
Explanation:
adaptations-
Crocodilians can move about on land - with surprising speed, particularly when alarmed or angry - but their bodies are mainly adapted for a life in water. The nostrils, eyes and ears lie along the top of the head so that the animal can hear, see, smell and breathe when the rest of the body is submerged.
When completely under the water, the ears are covered by small flaps of skin which can be closed to make the ears watertight. The nostrils can also be closed by special muscles, and the eyes have a 'third eyelid' which gives protection when diving.
There are special bony flaps in the throat which allow a crocodile to eat when submerged or breathe when its jaws are open underwater.
Crocodilians, being cold-blooded reptiles, have to avoid extremes of temperature. When it is fairly cool, they rest on a waterside bank, allowing the sun to warm their body. During the hottest part of the day, the animals will move into the shade or water to prevent their body from overheating
features/characteristics-
Crocodiles may look quite prehistoric, however, they are the most advanced reptile of our time. Unlike other reptiles they have a four-chambered heart, diaphragm and cerebral cortex (a structure within the vertebrate brain with distinct structural and functional properties).
A crocodiles physical traits allow it to be a successful predator. They have a streamlined body that enables them to swim faster. Crocodiles also tuck their feet to their sides while swimming, which helps the crocodile to swim fast, by decreasing the water resistance.
Crocodiles have webbed feet which, although not used to propel the animal through the water, allow it to make fast turns and sudden moves in the water or initiate swimming. Webbed feet are an advantage in shallower water where the crocodiles sometimes move around by walking.
Crocodiles are very fast over short distances, even out of water. Crocodiles have extremely powerful jaws capable of biting down with 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch and sharp teeth for tearing flesh, however, a crocodile cannot open their mouth if it is being held closed. All large crocodiles also have sharp and powerful claws.
Crocodiles have limited lateral movement in their neck, therefore, on land protection can be found by getting even a small tree between the crocodiles jaws and oneself.
Size greatly varies between species, from the Dwarf Crocodile to the enormous Saltwater Crocodile. Large species can reach over 5 or 6 metres long and weigh well over 1200 kilograms (2,640 pounds). Despite their large adult size, crocodiles start their life at around 20 centimetres long. The largest species of crocodile, also Earths largest reptile, is the Saltwater Crocodile, found in northern Australia and throughout South-east Asia.
There is no reliable way of measuring the age of a crocodile, although several techniques can be used to derive a reasonable guess. The most common method is to measure lamellar growth rings in bones and teeth – each ring corresponds to a change in growth rate which typically occurs once a year between dry and wet seasons.
habitats-
Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close, then rushing out to attack. As cold-blooded predators, they can survive long periods without food, and rarely need to actively go hunting. Despite their slow appearance, crocodiles are top predators in their environment and various species have been observed attacking and killing sharks. Crocodiles mostly feed on vertebrates like fish, reptiles, and mammals, sometimes with invertebrates like molluscs and crustaceans, depending on species.
The oldest crocodilians are estimated to have lived around 71 years on average and there is limited evidence that some individuals may exceed 100 years. One of the oldest crocodiles recorded died in a zoo in Russia apparently aged 115 years old.
Answer:
There are special bony flaps in the throat which allow a crocodile to eat when submerged or breathe when its jaws are open underwater. Crocodilians, being cold-blooded reptiles, have to avoid extremes of temperature. When it is fairly cool, they rest on a waterside bank, allowing the sun to warm their body.
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