Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Mugger Crocodile
Crocodiles
Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Crocodylus palustris
Basic stats
Diet
Insects when young; fish, reptiles, birds and mammals as adults
Habitat
Marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds
Range
Freshwater habitats from south-eastern Iran to the Indian subcontinent
Clutch size
Up to 46 eggs
Size
Rarely reaches 5m
The mugger, or marsh crocodile, is a medium-sized, broad-snouted crocodile native to freshwater habitats from south-eastern Iran to the Indian subcontinent, where it lives in marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds. It rarely reaches a body length of 5 m. It is a powerful swimmer but also walks overland in search of suitable water in the hot season. Young and adults dig burrows, to which they retreat when the temperature falls below 5 °C or rises above 38 °C (Wikipedia, general species account).
Females dig nesting holes in sand and lay up to 46 eggs in the dry season, and the sex of the hatchlings depends on incubation temperature. Both parents protect the young for up to a year. Young feed on insects, while adults take fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. The species is protected by law in Iran, India and Sri Lanka. Nationally Near Threatened (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What does the Mugger Crocodile eat?
- Insects when young; fish, reptiles, birds and mammals as adults
- What habitat does the Mugger Crocodile live in?
- Marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds
- Where is the Mugger Crocodile found?
- Freshwater habitats from south-eastern Iran to the Indian subcontinent
- How many eggs does the Mugger Crocodile lay?
- Up to 46 eggs
- How big is the Mugger Crocodile?
- Rarely reaches 5m