How Does The Male Nile Crocodile Woo The Female?
Courtship of the Nile crocodile involves a series of displays. As a prelude, the male crocodiles splash and posture to prove which males are dominant. Then, when the male and female come together, they both raise their heads and rub each others jaws. They also tend to lie down together, with their bodies next to each other for hours with their jaws gaping. Why this behaviour has developed over the course of evolution is not really clear- crocodiles usually leave their mouths gaping open to lose heat, so perhaps they are hot from passion! In any case, the actions of the male apparently prove irresistible to the female and mating follows. Five months later, during which time the eggs develop in the female’s body, she prepares to lay them. This is always done to coincide with the dry season when there is less risk of the eggs being destroyed by flooding.
