Get a First Person View of What It Would Be Like to Be Eaten by a Crocodile
This is the view that no one ever wants to see. It’s about as close as you can get to a crocodile’s mouth without getting swallowed. It was filmed on the Tarcoles River – a famous waterway in Costa Rica which runs towards the Pacific Coast. This river is teeming with crocs as well as caiman and large iguanas. Boat tours are popular with tourists on vessels very similar to the one in this clip. Tourists, however, are urged to keep their hands and feet inside the boat! Scroll down to see that clip that shows why.
Where Do American Crocodiles Normally Live?
The Tarcoles River is teeming with American crocodiles. This species is found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in Central and South America and in the Caribbean Islands. These guys can also be spotted in southeastern Florida in lowlands.
They are able to thrive in a range of aquatic environments. As you see in this clip, they are very comfortable and rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. However, they are also found in brackish waters including estuaries and swamps. They create a complex burrow system in which to shelter when the water levels are low. They also shelter here from cold weather. The entrance is usually at least partly submerged.
What Kind of Teeth Do American Crocodiles Have?
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As we can see in this clip, American crocodiles have a narrow head and a long snout. They have sharp teeth that interlock with each other. These crocodiles have between 28 and 32 teeth in their lower jaw between 30 to 40 and their upper jaw. They also have a very long and powerful tail that they use for swimming. It looks as if the croc in this clip is snapped off one of its teeth.
What Do Crocodiles Normally Eat?
This particular croc is feasting on chicken thrown to it from the tourist boat. These crocodiles are usually solitary predators. Hatchlings feed on insects but juvenile crocodiles feed on aquatic invertebrates and small fish.
Adults usually feed on fish, turtles, frogs, and birds and small mammals if they can get a hold of them. They hunt by grabbing the prey with their powerful jaws and swallowing it whole. They also swallow small stones which helps them to grind up the food.
As young crocodiles, they can get eaten themselves by raccoons and wild cats. The adults however have no predators that they need to worry about.
