The Siamese Crocodile
is a large reptile with a long and slender body.
Its thick, rough skin is covered with hard scales.
It has a strong jaw with sharp, tightly packed teeth.
This species can live both in water and on land,
commonly found in rivers, swamps, and lakes.
1
1
1
จระเข้น้ำจืด
Siamese Crocodile
| Animal Information |
- Common Name (Thai): จระเข้น้ำจืด
Common Name (English): Siamese Crocodile
Scientific Name: Crocodylus siamensis
| Average Lifespan |
The Siamese Crocodile has an average lifespan of 30–50 years in the wild and can live up to 70 years in captivity. Their major threats include habitat loss, illegal hunting, and hybridization with farmed crocodiles.
| Size and Weight |
The Siamese Crocodile is a medium to large-sized crocodile species.
Body Length: 2.5–4 meters (8–13 feet)
Weight: 100–350 kg (220–770 lbs)
Males are typically larger than females.
| Places to Visit |
Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Chiang Mai Zoo
Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo
Interesting Facts
The Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is a medium to large-sized reptile with an elongated body and a powerful tail, which helps it swim and ambush prey. Males are typically larger than females and have a more pronounced ridge behind their eyes. Despite lacking external ears, they have excellent hearing and can detect sounds from their hatchlings inside eggs. Their teeth regenerate throughout their lifetime, with a total of up to 8,000 teeth. Since they lack sweat glands, they regulate body temperature by opening their mouths wide in a behavior known as "mouth gaping."
Habitat
Siamese crocodiles are found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra. They inhabit slow-moving or still freshwater bodies such as rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes, and shaded waterholes.
Diet
They primarily feed on snakes, fish, frogs, birds, and small mammals. They are also known to scavenge on carcasses. In captivity, their diet includes fish, chicken, and other meats to mimic their natural feeding habits.
Behavior
As cold-blooded reptiles, Siamese crocodiles rely on their environment to regulate body temperature. They spend most of their time in the water during hot weather and bask on land when it is cooler. They are solitary creatures, prefering still waters with shaded areas, and do not typically form groups.
Other Information
Siamese crocodiles play an essential role in their ecosystem by controlling prey populations and scavenging on dead animals. Unfortunately, they are classified as Critically Endangered (CR) due to habitat loss, poaching, and hybridization with farmed crocodiles. Their population has declined by over 80% in the past 75 years.
Reproductive
Siamese crocodiles reach sexual maturity at around 10 years old and breed at the beginning of the rainy season. Females lay 11–26 eggs in the wild and 6–50 eggs in captivity. The incubation period lasts 70–80 days. The longest recorded lifespan in captivity is 49 years, while in the wild, they may live up to 70 years.
