Nile Crocodile for Kids Ages 6-8

Nile Crocodile

A Nile Crocodile tells his story, from being hatched and carried to the water in his mother's mouth to becoming a patient hunter. He explains how he uses his strong tail and powerful jaws and his important role in keeping his African river home healthy and balanced.

First Described 1768

Period of Heavy Hunting c. 1940

CITES Convention 1973

A Crocodile's Tale

Hello from the river! My name is Nile, and I am a Nile Crocodile. I live in the warm, sunny rivers of Africa, where the water flows gently and the banks are perfect for sunbathing. I want to tell you about my life. I am one of the biggest reptiles in the whole world. My body is built for the water. I have a very long and powerful tail that works like a motor, pushing me through the river when I swim. And you should see my jaws. They are super strong, with lots of sharp teeth. My tough, scaly skin is like a suit of armor that protects me. My home is my kingdom, and I am perfectly made to live here, swimming silently through the water or resting on the warm sand.

My life began in a very special way. I didn't have a cozy bed; I started inside an egg. My mother was very clever. She dug a nest in the warm sand on the riverbank and laid her eggs there, including mine. The sun kept me warm until I was ready to come out. When it was time, I made little chirping sounds from inside my shell. It was my way of saying, “I’m ready!” My mother heard me. She is a very good listener. She came right away and began to dig carefully in the sand with her big feet. Once she uncovered me and all my brothers and sisters, she did something amazing. She gently picked us up in her giant mouth. It looked scary, but it was the safest place to be. She carried us all down to the river for our very first swim.

Now that I am bigger, I have to find my own food. Being a good hunter means being very, very patient. I am an expert at waiting. I can float in the water so still that you might think I am just an old log drifting by. Only my eyes, ears, and nose peek out above the surface, so I can see, hear, and smell everything without being seen. I wait quietly near the edge of the river. Sometimes, a fish will swim by. Other times, a bird might land to take a drink. Even big animals, like a wildebeest, come to the water. When an animal gets close enough, I move in a flash. With a swish of my powerful tail and a snap of my strong jaws, I catch my meal. It is all about being patient and waiting for the perfect moment.

My job in the river is very important. As a top predator, I am like the guardian of the water. By hunting, I help make sure there are not too many of one kind of animal, which keeps everything in balance. This helps the fish, the plants, and all the other creatures that share my river home stay healthy. My kind has been doing this job for a very long, long time. People who study animals, called scientists, gave us our official name, Crocodylus niloticus, way back in the year 1768. I am proud to watch over my river, continuing the important work my ancestors have always done.