A crocodile's characteristics include a long and narrow skull, a long and narrow jaw, long teeth on the sides of its lower jaw, regenerating teeth, thick skin with bumps and light tan or brown coloring, according to the North Carolina Aquariums. Crocodiles can be found in brackish water, salt water and coastal habitats, while a similar species, the alligator, prefers to live in marshes, rivers, swamps and lakes, as noted by National Geographic.Continue Reading
Crocodiles are listed as endangered, and are protected by law under the Endangered Species Act. The crocodile is difficult to find in the United States, and the two crocodile species that are native can only be found at Florida's southernmost edge.
Crocodiles are direct descendants of dinosaurs, and the crocodile's ancestors can be tracked back more than 180 million years. Crocodiles are powerful animals, perhaps in part due to their dinosaur lineage, and they can chomp down their food in a few bites. The stomach acids inside of the crocodile are able to break down the food, so the animal doesn't have to chew. The crocodile also has long, narrow, sharp teeth that make biting and attacking easier. When these teeth become too dull, the crocodile will shed the dull teeth and grow new sharp teeth.Learn more about Crocodiles