Ask a Croc Expert
Read Dr. Britton's responses on the following croc topics:
Crocodile Predators
Crocodile Speed
Croc/Human Interaction
Crocodile Size
Crocodile Hunting
Crocodile Defense
Alligators vs. Crocodiles
Crocodile Mothering
Crocodile Infections
Crocodile Bites
Crocs in Water
Croc Body Heat
The Crocodile Heart
Q: On Croc MotheringHi, my name is Danelle and I love all animals. Do mother crocs build nests? How old are the babies before they leave their mother? Will the mother eat her young? Well, thank you!
A: Yes, mother crocodiles do build nests. Some species build a mound from vegetation and mud, then dig a hole in the top into which they lay their eggs before covering them over. Other species simply dig a hole into sand and lay their eggs into the cavity, a little like sea turtles would do.
However, unlike other reptiles their parental care doesn't stop there. The mother will guard the nest for over two months until the eggs are ready to hatch, then when she hears the babies (called "hatchlings") calling from within their eggs, she will open the nest and help them hatch. She even picks several up at a time in her mouth and carries them to the water. The baby crocs form a "crèche" — a small group that the mother will defend vigorously. Not a bad mother to have, you might say! Eventually, after several weeks or months, the juvenile crocodiles split up and disperse to try and find their own habitat — if they don't get eaten by predators first.
Does the mother eat her young? No, she does not. Scientists believe there is chemical recognition between mother and juveniles so she can recognize her own offspring, and the young crocs also use several types of calls to communicate with the mother to solicit her protection. However, the young crocs are fair game for other adult crocodiles! The female will try to defend them, but quite a few crocodiles are eaten by larger crocs before they reach maturity. This cannibalism actually serves a purpose — when populations are healthy, and there is no need for large numbers of juveniles to enter the population, their mortality is very high. However, if the population is low and needs to recover, the survival rate of the juveniles becomes much higher and many more survive to become adults. It's a tough life being a crocodile!
