Siamese Crocodile

The Siamese Crocodile reaches a length of 3.60 m. It is amphibious (can move on land as well as in water) and its hind legs are webbed. Its body is covered with a thick skin that prevents it from sweating, so it opens its mouth to regulate its temperature. A third transparent eyelid, called the nictitating eyelid, protects its eye when it is underwater. It is a carnivore, a fearsome predator and a scavenger (feeds on corpses). In captivity, it lives for around 50 years.

It is the only reptile to possess a range of sounds that enable it to communicate.
It is oviparous, mating only in water. It reaches sexual maturity at around 10 years of age. The female digs a nest to lay her eggs. She does not incubate them, but stays close by to protect them and look after her offspring.

As large predators, crocodiles play an essential role in maintaining the stability of the food chain by helping to recycle nutrients.

UICN Status: near threatened (Appendix II). There are only a few left in the wild, and reintroduction trials are under way in its natural habitat in Thailand.