Reproduction

Egg laying takes place during the dry season. Nests are built either at the opening of or inside the females burrow.

Males will establish a territory and raise their snouts above the ground while thrashing their tail to establish their dominance during the breeding season.

In to their nest the female will deposit 25-30 eggs. These hatch after just 55-75 days of incubation.

Females will remain within the nest and ensure it is safe. She will also adjust the temperature of the nest to ensure it is suitable.

The gender of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature at which they incubate. Lower temperatures produce females while higher temperatures will produce males. There is an in-between zone where both males and females will be produced.

Juveniles tend to be light tan or pale olive with black cross-bands on the tail and body. This is lost as they grow and darken in color.

Sexually maturity is tied to length. It is achieved between 1.8 and 2m (5.9 and 6.6ft) long. Females tend to reach this between 8 and 10 years old with males reaching it at 12-15 years old.

In captivity they have been observed to produce two clutches in the same season but this is yet to be recorded in the wild.

Behavior

Mugger crocodiles will dig a burrow which provides a respite from the high temperatures during the day in their environment. Exposure to these temperatures would be fatal for the mugger crocodile making these burrows essential to their survival.

These reptiles will call to one another especially during the breeding season.

This species is dependent on basking to control its internal temperature.

These crocodiles will move easily over the land when looking for a new home and will even chase prey for short distances.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the mugger crocodile tend to only target eggs and hatchings. These may be threatened by birds such as crows and wild dogs. Tigers also present a threat.

The current population of the mugger crocodile is believed to be stable with an adult population of between 5,700 and 8,700 individuals. This represents an increase from the estimated 2-3,000 individuals making up the population in 1989.

Mugger crocodiles are threatened by habitat loss as a result of agricultural and industrial development. They also become entangled in fishing equipment and egg predation. This species faces hunting for their skin and meat along with use in medicines.

A large population of these crocodiles is held in captive collections providing an insurance against their extinction and acting as the source for release to the wild.

These crocodiles are considered dangerous to humans in their range and have been confirmed to have killed a human previously.

Quick facts

These crocodiles are named from a Hindu word which means 'water monster.'

Mugger crocodiles are also known as the marsh crocodile.