# Philippine Crocodile (*crocodylus mindorensis*) The Philippine Crocodile is a special crocodile that loves to live in freshwater rivers and lakes. These amazing creatures have strong jaws and can be found basking in the sun or swimming in the water. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Epic - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers, lakes, and swamps in the Philippines. - **Also known as:** Maguindanao Crocodile, Mindoro Crocodile, Philippine Freshwater Crocodile ![Philippine Crocodile](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/71115407/medium.jpg) Photo: Gregg Yan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/71115407) ## Appearance The Philippine Crocodile is a relatively small freshwater crocodile, typically golden-brown to olive-brown with darker bands that fade with age. It has a distinctive broad snout and heavily armored scales, differentiating it from the longer-snouted saltwater crocodile. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Crocodylia - **Order:** Crocodylia - **Family:** Crocodylidae - **Genus:** Crocodylus ## Interesting facts - Baby crocodiles use a special egg tooth to break out of their shells! - Crocodiles communicate with grunts and growls, especially during mating season! - Only about 250 Philippine Crocodiles are left in the wild, making them super rare! - They are known as 'buwaya' in the local Filipino language! ## Special abilities - **Crushing Jaws:** Philippine Crocodile has an incredibly strong bite force that helps them crush bones and hold onto slippery prey. - **Ambush Master:** Philippine Crocodile can stay submerged for extended periods, silently ambushing prey in murky waters. - **Thermal Regulator:** Philippine Crocodile can bask in the sun to warm up or seek shade to cool down, regulating its body temperature. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-260 cm - **Weight:** 60-150 kg - **Lifespan:** 30-50 years - **Speed:** 17 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 12 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 7-30 - **Incubation:** 65-85 days - **Maximum Depth:** 8 m ## Diet & Feeding These silent hunters mostly eat fish, small mammals, and insects found in their freshwater homes. - **Age differences:** Young crocodiles primarily eat insects and small fish, while adults take on larger prey like mammals and birds. - **Primary Foods:** fish, frogs, small mammals, birds, insects - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Striped Snakehead (*Channa striata*) — A common prey fish in their freshwater habitats. - **Eats:** Red-eared frog (*Rana erythraea*) — Frogs are a regular part of their diet. - **Eaten by:** Marbled Water Monitor (*Varanus marmoratus*) — Adult monitors can sometimes prey on crocodile eggs. - **Depends on:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Conservation efforts by humans are crucial for their survival. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High Always observe crocodiles from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Philippine Crocodile? Compare scales, body proportions, legs, tail and shell, if there is one. Many reptiles change their look with age, temperature or breeding condition. Reptile Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Philippine Crocodile? 150-260 cm ### How much does Philippine Crocodile weigh? 60-150 kg ### How long does Philippine Crocodile live? 30-50 years ### How fast can Philippine Crocodile move? 17 km/h ### What does Philippine Crocodile eat? These silent hunters mostly eat fish, small mammals, and insects found in their freshwater homes. ### How fast can Philippine Crocodile swim? 12 km/h ### Where is Philippine Crocodile usually found? Freshwater rivers, lakes, and swamps in the Philippines. ## Where to spot - [Gladys Porter Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gladys-porter-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoom-erlebniswelt-gelsenkirchen) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Zoo ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Philippine Crocodile: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/philippine-crocodile)