Nature Activity

Crocodiles

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One glance at a crocodile, and the first thing you will probably notice is its large teeth, which may make you think it’s smiling at you. If you were to take the time to count them all you would discover that crocodiles have twenty-four teeth, but surprisingly they don’t use them for chewing like you or I do. Instead, a crocodile’s teeth were made for grasping and crushing their food.

Victims of their bite hardly ever escape, and that’s because the crocodile is a world champion biter. You and I can bite down on something with a force of 150–200 pounds per square inch (psi), but a croc can bite down with a force of 3,700 psi. That means a crocodile has almost 20 times the jaw strength that we have! Since it’s impossible to actually chew with their teeth, they swallow rocks in order to help with digestion. In addition to crushing and grinding up food in their stomach, the rocks help balance the crocodile in the water and also add to their weight, allowing them to remain underwater for up to an hour at a time. This ability, along with their really fast swimming skills, makes the crocodile extremely dangerous.

But like all other animals, crocodiles have a weakness. Although they can close their mouths with amazing force, it takes hardly any force at all to prevent them from opening their mouth. In fact, if you were brave enough to place a rubber band around its snout, the crocodile’s jaws would not be strong enough to open its mouth! Isn’t it amazing that a simple little rubber band could do that?

You can learn an important lesson from the crocodile. Just like they keep a tight grip on their prey, you should also keep a tight grip . . . on Jesus! He will never let you go, but He won’t force you to keep holding onto Him. Why not make a decision today—to hold on to Jesus!

Bible Verse:
“Nevertheless I am continually with You;
ou hold me by my right hand.”

 

Crocodiles can lose teeth, but they are quickly replaced.
Some have been known to lose up to 8,000 teeth in a lifetime.

It’s No Secret

Download the crocodile activity sheet and find out the mystery word in the puzzle.

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Check out our fact sheet on crocodiles

Check out the God’s Amazing Animals below on the Crocodile. Watch more God’s Amazing Animals Here

About

Crocodiles are very intimidating to look at. They are a fierce carnivore that is not to be messed with. Still, God made this awesome animal and there are many things we can learn from it.

Facts:
  • They can grow to 20 feet long!
  • They have the strongest bite of any animal.
  • They will lay up to 50 eggs in a nest.
  • Crocs are able to replace each of their 80 teeth up to 50 times in their lifespan.
  • Eyes, ears and nostrils are located on top of the head.
  • They do not chew their food.
  • Saltwater Crocodiles (salties) are much larger than Freshwater (freshies).
  • They have scutes on ther backs. Check out our Nature Fact Sheet on the Fresh Water Turtle to learn more about Scutes.
Crocodiles vs Alligators
  • Alligators have a U-shaped snout which is shorter, Crocodiles have a V-shaped snout which will be longer.
  • Crocodiles are more aggressive.
  • Alligators have a wider upper jaw which hides the top teeth. Crocodiles teeth will be seen when they close their mouths in a “toothy grin”
  • Alligators live only in freshwater.

If an egg is kept at 88.8˚F it will be a male croc. If it is above or below that temperature it will be a female.
 
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Mystery Word: CARNIVORE

ANSWERS:

1. Chew

2. Fast

3. Hour

4. Balance

5. Digest

6. Brave

7. Force

8. Prevent

9. Teeth