New Guinea crocodile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Guinea crocodile |
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| New Guinea crocodile at Bandung Zoo in West Java, Indonesia | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Crocodylus
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| Species: |
novaeguineae
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| Range shown in green (including Hall's New Guinea crocodile) | |
| Synonyms | |
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C. n. novaeguineae |
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The New Guinea crocodile (Crocodylus novaeguineae) is a type of crocodile that lives on the island of New Guinea. These amazing reptiles mostly make their homes in freshwater swamps and lakes. They are very active at night, hunting for food.
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About the New Guinea Crocodile
New Guinea crocodiles are medium-sized crocodiles. They usually grow to about 2.5 to 3.5 meters (8 to 11 feet) long. Males are often a bit larger than females. Their skin is usually a dark brown or grayish color, which helps them blend in with their swampy homes.
Where They Live
These crocodiles are found only on the island of New Guinea. This island is located north of Australia. They prefer quiet, slow-moving waters. You can find them in freshwater swamps, rivers, and lakes. They like places with lots of plants and trees along the banks. This gives them good places to hide and hunt.
What They Eat
New Guinea crocodiles are carnivores, which means they eat meat. They are nocturnal hunters, meaning they hunt mostly at night. Their main diet includes fish and other small water animals. They also eat birds and small mammals that come to the water's edge. Young crocodiles eat insects and small fish.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female New Guinea crocodiles are very careful mothers. When it's time to lay eggs, the female builds a nest. This nest is usually a mound made of plants and mud. She lays a clutch of about 20 to 50 eggs inside.
After laying the eggs, the mother crocodile stays very close to the nest. She guards it from predators. The eggs hatch after about 80 days. The baby crocodiles are very small when they hatch. The mother often helps them get out of the nest and carries them to the water. She will protect her young for several weeks or months.
Protecting These Crocodiles
In the middle of the 20th century, many New Guinea crocodiles were hunted. People wanted their skin to make leather products. This caused their numbers to drop a lot. Luckily, people realized this was a problem.
Today, there are rules and efforts to protect them. Because of these conservation efforts, the New Guinea crocodile is no longer an endangered species. Many are now raised on special ranches. These ranches help to meet the demand for crocodile skin without harming wild populations. This way, the wild crocodiles can continue to thrive in their natural homes.
Images for kids
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At Bandung Zoo, West Java, Indonesia
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At Wuppertal Zoo
See also
In Spanish: Cocodrilo de Nueva Guinea para niños
