Nile crocodiles live in Africa. They also live on the island of Madagascar. Their homes are rivers, freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps.

As of November 2026, the Nile crocodile is the largest crocodile in Africa. An average adult is about 16 feet (5 meters) long, counting its tail. It weighs about 500 pounds (225 kilograms), and many weigh more. As of November 2026, the longest reach about 20 feet (6 meters).

A Nile crocodile has its eyes on top of its head. It swims by moving its tail. Its short legs are held against its body. A long tooth on each side of its lower jaw can be seen when its mouth is closed.

In daylight a Nile crocodile basks in the sun. It often rests with its mouth open. When it needs to, it cools off in the water. It warms up and cools down by moving between sun and shade, or land and water.

Fish are the main food of a Nile crocodile. It also eats animals such as zebras and porcupines. Young ones eat insects and small fish. Its tail stores fat. A big crocodile can go a long time without food.

A mother Nile crocodile makes her nest on a riverbank, a sandy shoreline or a dry streambed. Mothers often make their nests close to each other. Each one guards her nest until the eggs hatch.

A mother lays at least 25 eggs in one nest. The eggs take about 90 days, or three months, to hatch. The nest temperature decides if the babies are female or male. Just before they hatch, the babies call from inside their eggs.

When the babies are ready, the mother digs up the nest. A parent may gently roll an egg in its mouth. This helps a baby hatch. Then the mother carries her new babies to the water in her mouth.

A young Nile crocodile grows about 30 centimeters (1 foot) longer each year. On average, a Nile crocodile lives about 45 years in the wild.

Words to know

• basks: sits in sun
• hatch: come from eggs
• mangrove: coastal tree swamp