Why crocodile open mouth

And while visitors to the Zoo often flock to shade or the air conditioned buildings like the Reptile Discovery Center , some animals are reveling in the heat—like our crocodiles. Crocodiles are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is derived from the external environment. Their skin is specially designed to absorb heat and maintain temperature.

When a crocodile is basking, or laying in the sun, it is raising its body temperature. When it wants to cool back down it can move out of the sun into the shade or a body or water. Another option for the crocodile is to open its mouth. In the wild, they feast on fish, birds, frogs and crustaceans. At the zoo, they eat small animals that have already been killed for them, such as rats, fish or mice. They also eat live locusts. In the wild, crocodiles will clamp down on their prey with their massive jaws, crush it, and then they will swallow the prey whole.

They do not have the capability to chew or break off small pieces of food like other animals. To help with digestion, crocodiles swallow small stones that grind up the food in their stomachs. Thanks to their slow metabolisms, crocodiles can survive for months without food.

During the Mesozoic Era , about million years ago, the Crocodilia order was one of the top animals on the food chain. Today, crocodiles are found in the tropical habitats of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. They normally live near lakes, rivers, wetlands and even some saltwater regions. One of the largest known populations of American crocodiles is found in the Dominican Republic's at a large saltwater lake called Lago Enriquillo, according to National Geographic.

Crocodiles live in tropical climates for a reason. They are cold-blooded and cannot generate their own heat. During colder months, they hibernate or go dormant. Crocodiles will also go dormant during long periods of drought.

To create a place to hibernate, they dig out a burrow in the side of river bank or lake and settle in for a long sleep. Crocodiles lay 10 to 60 eggs at a time. The hatchlings stay in their eggs for 55 to days. They are 7 to 10 inches How long a crocodile lives depends on its species. Some only live to around 30 years, while others live up to 75 years. The plover acts as both a dental hygienist and a warning system for danger.

PawNation writes, "The plover comes along and, using his sharp little beak like a toothpick, removes the bits of meat from between the crocodile's teeth. This feeds the plover and removes parasites from the croc's mouth. The plover serves as a security alarm system for the crocodile. If, while in the croc's mouth, the plover senses danger from an oncoming animal, she screams and flies away. This behavior alerts the crocodile to the imminent danger, so he can slide into the water and out of harm's way as well.

In this way, the plover keeps her source of free food safe for future use -- a service the croc, no doubt, appreciates regardless of the motive. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

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