wildanimals4kids.blogspot.com - Crocodile

 NATURAL WORLD : WILD ANIMALS

CROCODILE

How cheerfully he seems to grin
How neatly spreads
his claws
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws

- Lewis  Caroll

Crocodiles belong  to the reptile family, that means animals that have short limbs, walk with their bellies close to the ground and have scales. Their long snouts and streamlined bodies help them to swim in the water very fast. 

A crocodile is a deadly predator and lies in wait along river banks to catch animals like goats, sheep, zebra, deer, etc. Smaller crocodiles also eat fish, birds and other small animals.

 It has 80 teeth which can grow back if they are broken. The force of its bite is as strong as that of a shark. Their  eyes, ears and nostrils are on top of their heads, so that can hide under the water and watch their prey. They even have a thin third eyelid to cover the pupils while swimming underwater. their bodies are covered with thick hard scales that are grey to brown in colour. This helps them to hide in the river or land.

Difference between Crocodiles and Alligators

Alligators have shorter 'U' shaped snouts and when they close their mouth, their teeth cannot be seen. But a crocodile has a longer snout and you can see its sharp teeth even when the mouth is closed. 

In this picture, an alligator's teeth cannot be seen unlike in the picture above.

Where do they live?

Crocodiles and alligators live in warm habitats in lakes, rivers and wetlands all over the world. There are about 16 different types of crocodiles and alligators. The saltwater crocodile is the largest and the most aggressive among them. The males are bigger, about 20 feet long and weigh 1300kg.They are found in and around Southeast Asia and Australia.

Why are crocs killed?

All over the world, the luxury business is killing the crocodile. They offer money to the natives to kill crocodiles and alligators in the wild. The beautiful  skin  with various patterns and colours are used to make shoes, wallets, purses, belts, etc.
This cruel trade will stop only if people stop buying animal skin products.

Simple lines to speak...

CROCODILES

1. Crocodiles are large reptiles that live on both land and water.

2. They have long snouts with 80 teeth.

3. It is a powerful and dangerous predator.

4. It eats goats, deer, birds and other animals.

5. It lives in lakes and rivers in warm places.

6. People should not buy things made of crocodile skin.

Public Speaking

Note for educators and parents : Describe and explain with the help of information given on this page. Help the child memorize these lines and speak in front of a camera with actions.  Young Learners may post their videos and comments here.

Those interested may send their write-up on an animal not mentioned here. (300 words max. and 3 images). Name of the contributor will be mentioned.

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