General Facts about animal life on the Nile
There are many animals that live in or around the Nile River. Most of them are reptiles. The most common reptile is the Nile Crocodile. The Nile Crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa, and also one of the largest in the world. It can be as long as 20 feet, and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds. It eats animals that come to the water to drink. Sometimes that even means other crocodiles. It usually hunts gazelle, buffalo, wild dogs and wildebeest. The crocodile uses its strong jaws and teeth to pull the animal under the water until it drowns. Then, it puts it under a rotten tree trunk. After the animal has rotted, the crocodile eats it.
During the spring, the female crocodiles lay their eggs. They usually lay around 30 to 70 eggs. The eggs hatch after about 50 days, then the mother takes them to the water in her mouth. Newborn crocodiles are 12 inches long.
DID YOU KNOW:
Crocodiles are the closest living relatives to birds.
The incubation temperature determines the sex of the crocodiles.
MISCELLANEOUS FACTS ABOUT THE NILE CROCODILE:
weight: up to 1,650 pounds.
breeding season: July
diet: mammals, birds, fish, carrion and other reptiles
lifespan: 70-100 years
There are also soft-shelled turtles, lizards and 15 species of venomous snakes that live in the Nile River habitat. The hippopotamus also lives along the Nile River. The hippopotamus usually lives in a group of 10 to 20. They often walk on the bottom of lakes. The hippopotamus is an herbivore, which means it eats plants.
DID YOU KNOW:
The teeth of a hippopotamus can be as long as 20 inches.
MISCELLANEOUS FACTS ABOUT THE HIPPOPOTAMUS:
length: 10-11 feet
height: 5 feet
weight: females up to 3,300 lb.;
males 3,300-7,000 lb.
diet: grasses
call: roars and bellows
lifespan: 45-50 years
There are also many different kinds of fish in the Nile River. The Nile Perch can weigh up to 175 pounds. Other fish include the tiger fish, lungfish, catfish, mudfish and eel. Lake Nasser High Dam produces 25,000 tons of fish a year.
