Reptiles of Madagascar

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 29. Chapters: Angonoka tortoise, Antsingy Leaf Chameleon, Barbour's day gecko, Brookesia ebenaui, Brookesia micra, Brookesia minima, Brookesia peyrierasi, Brookesia tuberculata, Brown leaf chameleon, Chalarodon, Flat-backed spider tortoise, Furcifer campani, Furcifer labordi, Furcifer minor, Gold dust day gecko, Lygodactylus blanci, Madascincus arenicola, Nile crocodile, Panther chameleon, Pararhadinaea melanogaster, Parson's chameleon, Perinet chameleon, Phelsuma, Phelsuma laticauda angularis, Phelsuma lineata bifasciata, Phelsuma lineata bombetokensis, Phelsuma lineata chloroscelis, Phelsuma lineata dorsivittata, Phelsuma lineata elanthana, Phelsuma lineata punctulata, Phelsuma modesta leiogaster, Phelsuma quadriocellata bimaculata, Phelsuma quadriocellata lepida, Phelsuma quadriocellata parva, Stenophis. Excerpt: The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is an African crocodile and the second largest extant reptile in the world, after the saltwater crocodile. The Nile crocodile is quite widespread throughout Africa and lives in different types of aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers and marshlands. On average the Nile crocodile is between 4.1 metres (13 ft) to 5 metres (16 ft), weighing around 410 kg (900 lb). However, specimens measuring 6.1 metres (20 ft) in length and weighing 900 kg (2,000 lb) are not uncommon. They have thick scaly skin that is heavily armored. The Nile crocodile is an opportunistic predator and an aggressive species of crocodile that is capable of taking almost any animal within its range. They are generalists, taking a variety of prey. Their diet consists mostly of different species of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. The Nile crocodile is an ambush predator and can wait for hours, days and even weeks for the suitable moment to attack. They are quite agile predators and wait for the opportunity for the prey item to come close within the range of attack. Like other reptiles, Nile crocodiles lay eggs to reproduce, which are guarded by the female. The young are also protected for a period of time, but hunt by themselves and are not fed by the parents. The Nile crocodile is one of the most dangerous species of crocodile and is responsible for the hundreds of deaths of humans every year. The binomial name Crocodylus niloticus is derived from the Greek kroko ("pebble"), deilos ("worm", or "man"), referring to its rough skin; and niloticus, meaning "from the Nile River". The Nile crocodile is called timsah al-nil in Arabic, mamba in Swahili, garwe in Shona, ngwenya in Ndebele, ngwena in Venda, kwena in Sotho and Tswana. Nile crocodiles have a dark bronze colouration above, with black spots on the back and a dirty purple on the belly. The flanks, which are yellowish-green in colour, have dark patches arranged in oblique stripes. There is some variatio