Name: Crocodile (Lesser Animal) Stats: No. Appearing : 3-24 Climate/Terrain: Subtropical and tropical, saltwater swamps and rivers Frequency : Common Organization : Nil Activity Cycle : Day Diet : Carnivore Description: The crocodile is a large, dangerous predatory reptile native to tropi- cal and subtropical climes. It spends most of its time submerged in swamps, rivers, or other large bodies of water. The crocodile is one of the most feared and ugliest predators of the tropics. It has a long, squat body, ranging in size from a scant foot to well over ten feet long. Most mature specimens range from eight to 15 feet long, and some even larger. Many sages argue that crocodiles never stop growing. The cocodile has a long jaw filled with sharp, co- nical teeth. The powerful maw is superbly adapted for dragging prey be- neath the water and dismembering it. Its four short legs are very po- werful and can propel the crocodile rapidly through the water and over the land. Its long tail is also very strong and is sometimes used on land to unbalance its foes. The crocodile is covered with a tough horny hide, which blends in very well with the surrounding water. Its eyes and nose are placed so that when the crocodile floats, only they remain above water, enabling the beast to spot and ambush prey. The crocodile is adept at floating through the water and remaining quite still, presenting the illusion that it is nothing more than a floating log. Combat: Ever voracious, hungry crocodiles will attack anything that looks edi- ble, including men. They prefer to lie in wait for their prey, and are exceedingly sensitive to movements in the water. They have been known to switfly and silently swim up to the shore and seize a man, dragging him below the surface of the water. They prefer to attack with their powerful jaws and lash with their tails. Crocodiles will fight among themselves for any prey they seize in their jaws, sometimes tearing their victim to pieces. The only thing that can slow a crocodile is cold; they become slow and sluggish when their body temperature falls below their normal degree. Habitat/Society: Crocodiles sometimes congregate in large numbers, but they are not by nature sociable, nor do they cooperate in hunting. They have well- concealed lairs and will often drag their prey to their lairs before eating it. When a tasty morsel comes its way, a group of crocodiles will go into a feeding frenzy, each attempting to get a part of the feast. They hunt almost daily, primarily in the water, rarely on land. Their tastes are broad: fish, men, small mammals, aquatic birds, and even a careless lion has occasionally been known to fall into their grasp. Hungry crocodiles will sometimes upend boats to see what falls out. Crocodiles mate once a year, and the female lays a clutch of about 60 eggs, carefully burying them in the sand. Unlike many other reptiles, the female carefully guards her eggs, protecting them from other preda- tors. When the time comes for the eggs to hatch, the mother assists by digging the eggs out of the sand. The newly hatched young are thrown entirely on their own resources to survive. Very few of the young sur- vive to maturity. Swamps and rivers are not the only abode of the crocodile. In recent years there have been dreadful rumours that some of these reptiles have made their homes in the sewers of cities in tropical regions, living on waste and carrion. Ecology: The crocodile is a formidable predator and has little competition for food from other water creatures. Even on the riverbanks it has little to fear from rival predators; most would prefer not to tangle with a crocodile. The only predator that the crocodile need fear is man, who hunts it for its tough hide, which can be transformed into a beautiful, gleaming leather. Crocodiles are also hunted to eliminate the danger that they represent to riverside communities.