Nile Crocodile

The Nile crocodile is a large predatory reptile found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, in rivers, lakes and marshes, and is the second-largest crocodilian species after the saltwater crocodile, with adults commonly reaching four to five metres in length. It is an ambush predator that lies in wait near the water's edge, seizing fish, birds and mammals that come to drink, including large animals such as wildebeest and zebra during river crossings, which it subdues using a powerful bite and a rolling motion to disable prey. Nile crocodiles are unusually attentive parents for reptiles, with females guarding their nests and, after hatching, sometimes carrying young to the water in their mouths. Though feared as one of the most dangerous animals to humans in parts of its range, the species remains widespread and is farmed commercially for its skin in several countries.