Nile crocodile

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nile-crocodile

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Crocodylus niloticus
2. What is the diet?Carnivore; opportunistic and generalist feeder, consuming fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals
3. What does a Nile crocodile look like?A Nile crocodile has thick, heavily armored scaly skin that protects it. It is one of Africa's largest predators, with males reaching up to 5 meters long and weighing up to 750 kilograms.
4. Where can you find Nile crocodiles?They live in freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshlands across 26 African countries, mainly in eastern, southern, and central regions. They sometimes visit brackish deltas and rarely saltwater areas.

Sexual Dimorphism: Distinct physical differences in size or appearance between males and females of a species.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.
Thermoregulation: The process by which an animal maintains its body temperature within a certain range.