Crocodile
A large semiaquatic predatory reptile in the family Crocodylidae. Crocodiles have elongated snouts, powerful jaws, and armored skin.
Crocodilian locomotion: The ways crocodilians move on land and through water using limbs, body, and tail. The tail propels crocodiles through water, while limb-driven gaits support movement on land.
Crocodylia: The order of reptiles comprising crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials. Crocodiles are one family within this broader group of living crocodilians.
Crocodile farming: The commercial breeding or rearing of crocodiles for products such as skins and meat. Regulated farming supplies crocodile products and can support conservation incentives.
Alligator: A crocodilian in the family Alligatoridae, generally distinguished from crocodiles by a broader snout and other anatomical traits. Alligators are close relatives, but their snout shape and salt tolerance differ from many crocodiles.
Crocodilian sensory systems: The sensory organs crocodilians use to detect stimuli in water and on land. Pressure-sensitive facial organs help crocodiles detect disturbances made by nearby prey.
Crocodylidae: The family of true crocodiles, including the Nile, saltwater, and American crocodiles. This is the taxonomic family that contains crocodiles in the strict sense.
Crocodile attacks: Incidents in which crocodiles injure or kill people or other animals. Understanding where attacks occur informs safety measures around crocodile habitat.
Gharial: A fish-eating crocodilian with a very long, narrow snout, native to the Indian subcontinent. The gharial's specialized snout contrasts with the broader prey-catching jaws of most crocodiles.
Crocodilian bite force: The force crocodilians produce when closing their jaws. Crocodiles use exceptionally strong jaw-closing muscles to seize and restrain prey.
Archosaur: A major group of reptiles that includes crocodilians, birds, and their extinct relatives. Crocodiles belong to the surviving non-avian branch of archosaurs.