The number of crocodile teeth
The number of teeth in crocodiles varies from one species to a different, because the dwarf crocodile has 60 teeth, while the large gharial crocodile has 110 teeth, and saltwater crocodiles have 66 teeth, so There are 18 teeth on both sides of the maxilla, and 15 teeth on both sides of the articulator.
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| the crocodile |
The teeth of the crocodile are distinguished by their conical shape, which are very sharp teeth that penetrate and hold the prey rather than chewing and cutting it, and when the crocodile closes its jaws, the teeth of the jaw completely match the teeth of the mandibular bone, which makes it easy for him to know the prey firmly and tightly, and therefore the muscles of the jaws have a really huge force that helps him To crush turtles and skulls easily.
The fourth tooth of the jaw sticks above the upper lip of the crocodile when it closes its mouth, so this tooth may be seen when the crocodile's mouth is closed, but it can't be seen in some varieties of crocodiles, like alligators, as its mouth completely covers this tooth.
Replacement of teeth in an exceedingly crocodile
The lifetime of a crocodile depends largely on its huge mouth, especially its teeth, and one among the distinguishing features of a crocodile's teeth is that it's replaced in waves, that is, repeatedly during its life, because the teeth are replaced in small crocodiles along the jaw ranging from the rear, then towards the front, and because the crocodile progresses in Ages are swapped from front to back.
Crocodile teeth are gradually replaced over time, and don't fall out without delay or a full group, as each new tooth is found under the cavity of the old tooth, or damaged, then moves to exchange it within a awfully short time, and also the total number of crocodile teeth during its entire life can reach up to eight,000 teeth, replacement occurs during its life approximately every 20 months, then the replacement process slows down because the crocodile ages, and typically stops completely in older individuals.
How does a crocodile clean its teeth?
The plover, or what's called the Egyptian plover, or the domestic cat, or the Pluvianus aegyptius puts its head inside the crocodile’s mouth to get rid of the pieces of meat stuck between the crocodile’s teeth using its sharp beak as a toothpick, and thus feeds the plover itself, while removing parasites from the crocodile’s mouth, and thus the the link between the plover and therefore the crocodile may be a symbiotic one, as they take pleasure in one another.
The plover also acts as a security alarm for the crocodile. If a danger approaches the crocodile, the bird makes a sound, and flies away in order that the crocodile pays attention to the bird's behavior, and thus realizes that danger is approaching, so it can escape away and dive into the water.
It is worth noting that the crocodile cannot sweat through its skin like humans, or through its feet as dogs do, therefore the crocodile suns its body on the banks of rivers to show itself to heat, and so its mouth is open, and although crocodiles swallow their prey completely, some meat is stuck between Her teeth can't be cleaned by herself.
Crocodile food and predation
Crocodiles are carnivores, as they hunt any object that's located along the shore, or lives within the water, and gharial crocodiles value more highly to eat fish, in order that they catch them near the underside of the river, as they initially creep, so increase the speed of their lateral movement, to catch fish near their jaws Crocodiles can go without food for several months between each meal, but once they are hungry they eat during one meal up to half their weight.
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| crocodile teeth |
Crocodiles don't chew their food, but cut or tear it into large pieces, and so swallow them, and that they can swallow the prey whole if it's small in size, because the crocodile moves the food inside its mouth, then returns its head back in order that the food can break its throat, and therefore the crocodile diet includes many Of foods, in keeping with the scale of the crocodile, and what it can eat, including the following:
- fish.
- turtle.
- the birds.
- pigs.
- frogs.
- monkeys.
- deer.
- buffalo.
The Alligator mississipiensis feeds on fish, invertebrates, birds, frogs, and mammals, where it hunts its prey during the night, then drags it underwater to drown, then swallows it, and therefore the epiglottis in its throat helps it swallow large prey completely immersed within the water.