Masters of the Water: Crocodiles

Crocodiles are semi-aquatic reptiles that belong to the Crocodylidae family. They have existed for around 200 million years, emerging during the time of the dinosaurs, and have changed very little since then. They typically live in tropical regions, in rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Crocodiles have very powerful jaws. When they bite down on their prey, they can exert a force of nearly one ton. Interestingly, the muscles that open their jaws are quite weak, so while they can close them with great force, opening them is much harder.

They feed on fish, birds, mammals, and even other reptiles. They are known for the "death roll" — a spinning move used to tear apart their prey after capturing it.

Crocodiles are cold-blooded animals, meaning their body temperature depends on their environment. They warm up by basking in the sun and cool down by entering the water. Some species can live for 70 to 100 years.

Finally, crocodiles are quiet and patient hunters. They can move through water almost invisibly and strike suddenly when it's time to catch their prey.