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crocodile
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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. Illustration of a Mississippi or American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) with its mouth open, showing a broad snout, armored body, and thick tail, alongside a scale bar for size reference. Nile crocodile Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) with mouth wide open, displaying sharp teeth, lies on a muddy riverbank in sunlight at Pilanesberg National Park. estuarine crocodile, or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) Close-up of two green gharials crocodiles, or the scientifc name Gavialis gangeticus, resting in shallow water, showing their long, narrow snouts and textured greenish skin. American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) A Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) rests on sandy ground near a concrete wall, its body stretched out with head slightly raised.
Witness a crocodile hatchling emerge from its egg and call for its mother
American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
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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.
estuarine crocodile, or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) 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.

crocodile

reptile order, Crocodylia
Also known as: Crocodilia, Crocodylia, crocodilian
Written by
James P. Ross
Associate Scientist, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville.
James P. RossAll
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

crocodile, (order Crocodylia, or Crocodilia), any of about 27 species of generally large, ponderous, amphibious animals of lizard-like appearance and carnivorous habit belonging to the reptile order Crocodylia. Crocodiles have powerful jaws with many conical teeth and short legs with clawed webbed toes. They share a unique body form that allows the eyes, ears, and nostrils to be above the water surface while most of the animal is hidden below. The tail is long and...

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