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How do Nile crocodiles build their nests?

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Illustration of an estuarine or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) with its mouth open, showing scaly skin and powerful limbs, alongside a scale bar for size reference. — crocodile Estuarine, or saltwater, crocodile (*Crocodylus porosus*), found in brackish waters from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar east to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and south to Australia.

Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) build their nests by digging a hole in the ground, typically along a riverbank or sandy shore. After depositing a clutch of eggs—which can number up to 80—the female refills the hole with sand or soil to cover and incubate them.12

This method differs from some other crocodilians, such as the estuarine crocodile, which construct mounds of plant material and soil. Once the eggs are buried, the female Nile crocodile remains nearby to protect the nest from predators throughout the incubation period. When the young are ready to hatch, the female uncovers the eggs and may assist the hatchlings by carrying them to the water in her mouth.123