Their presence in the state of Florida isn’t a threat only to the human population of the area, but also for its native crocs. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida – one in 2009, one in 2011 and one in 2014 – the report added. Scientists analyzed genetic material from the trio and found that they were Nile crocodiles, closely related to those in South Africa. book. The aggressive Nile crocodile can grow up to six metres (20ft) long, and around 200 people a year fall victim to the giant reptile in its native Africa. 2016: Killer Nile crocodiles in Florida? The invasive croc is known to prey upon a large range of animals, including cattle and humans. Florida wetlands as well as coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas would also provide perfect refuge for the Nile croc. The team didn't get genetic samples from this animal, but they do think that case means Nile crocodiles can thrive in Florida. or The results concluded that these crocodiles had indeed originated from South Africa. So there's no need to worry about Florida's crocodiles, right? What is more, Florida has a reputation for illegal exotic animal holding. And while American crocs are quite gentle, the ones from the Nile are a completely different story. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida – one in 2009, one in 2011 and one in 2014 – the report added. One popular theory that was circulating on the Internet once the story broke out in the media was that they swam across the Atlantic Ocean. Upon hearing these statistics, the Nile crocodile is certainly one of the last predators on Earth you’d want to have in your vicinity. As you might expect, the Nile River is full of Nile crocodiles. But the state is also home to one of the Alligator's much smaller cousins--which is not supposed to be here. They are bigger and far more aggressive than the American crocodiles that are native to the Florida … Scientists were first alerted to the presence of "unusual looking crocodilians" by private citizens, the team reports in a paper for Herpetological Conservation and Biology. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida. "The odds that the few of us who study Florida reptiles have found all of the Nile crocs out there is probably unlikely,” Kenneth Krysko, a herpetologist from the University of Florida and lead author for the paper tells The Guardian. The Nile crocodile is one of Africa’s deadliest predators. Nile Crocodile Facts: Introduction. We can only hope that the attempt will be successful. Nile Crocodile Facts: Introduction. Yes, the Everglades are full of crocodiles, but they’re native to America. This isn't the case everywhere in the world, however. The only possible solution to this situation is if their owners surrender them willingly and without any incidents. "The odds that the few of us who study Florida reptiles have found all of the Nile crocs out there is probably unlikely,” Kenneth Krysko, a herpetologist from the University of Florida and lead author for the paper tells, How did these creatures get to Florida, nearly 8,000 miles from South Africa? Vote Now! There may be a deadly new invasive species lurking in Florida's swamps. But how did this species make it all the way there? Still, up to this point there haven’t been too many cases similar to this. Give a Gift. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But the question remains: How did they get here? Dumb humans, most likely. It’s still unclear how the Nile crocodiles wound up in Florida, but the scientists who conducted the study have some guesses. As you might expect, the Nile River is full of Nile crocodiles. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. They crawl through rivers, freshwater marshes and mangrove swamps in sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin and in Madagascar. Advertising Notice If you did not know, Nile Crocodiles are primarily found in the Nile River in Africa. Plenty of the crocodiles have been imported into the U.S. not only to live at places like zoos and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but also for the exotic pet trade (because a person-eating, 20-foot croc sounds like a great pet! The … — The first, a hatchling, was found on a front porch and sent to a Louisiana reptile exhibit. add this to the already impending doom of human blood sport, and we’ve got a soon to be endangered species. The Nile crocodile is a member of the Crocodilia order. The Nile crocodile’s bite force has been recorded to be an incredible 22,000 newtons, making the Lion’s bone-crushing 4,450 newton bite seem more like a nibble. The Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is an African crocodile and the second largest reptile in the world, after the saltwater crocodile. As of this day, researchers are not entirely sure how the Nile Crocodiles reached the state of Florida. They can also grow to a length of 18 feet. So how the heck did these potentially human-flesh-hungry crocs get to the wilds of Florida? This happens mostly due to how close its natural habitat is to human settlements, as well as the fact that it has an indiscriminate diet. Read 3 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. After a long and strenuous chase, they finally managed to capture the reptile. However, a worrying population seems to be on the rise in the American state of Florida. Scientists have confirmed that the Nile crocodile has been found in Florida’s Everglades. Illegal exotic pet ownership in Florida has created an unforeseen threat for both the residents of the area and the native crocodile population. book. The Nile crocodile may be the biggest invader to take up residence in the Sunshine State, but it has plenty of company. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida. The first, a hatchling, was found on a front porch in Homestead, Florida in 2009 and sent to a Louisiana reptile exhibit. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. 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Marissa Fessenden is a freelance science writer and artist who appreciates small things and wide open spaces. Three crocodiles captured near Miami in 2009, 2011 and 2014 are indeed Nile crocodiles. The Nile crocodile is not just found in the Nile … 2016: Killer Nile crocodiles in Florida? Smithsonian Institution. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida. The giant reptiles have also been reported in … According to National Geographic, it is the largest crocodilian on the continent, as it can grow up to 20 feet and weigh as much as 1,650 pounds. Nevertheless, the Nile crocodile shares a lot of similar traits with its American brethren. These Nile crocodiles come from Africa. The researchers note that over the last decade, large groups of Nile crocodiles have been imported from South Africa and Madagascar for display at zoos like Disney’s Animal Kingdom and to supply Florida’s flourishing pet trade, with the latter being the most likely introduction pathway, according to the study. Florida wetlands as well as coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas would also provide perfect refuge for the Nile croc. The Nile crocodile, which lives mostly in the eastern half of Africa and reaches lengths of up to 20 feet, is a much larger and more aggressive creature than Florida's native species, the American crocodile. Several Nile crocodiles have been imported into Florida … Even though this might seem considerably less, they are still rather large reptiles. This huge reptile, which can grow to lengths of over 6 meters, is capable of taking down pretty much any animal that ventures too close to its watery domain. Nile crocodiles have a considerably fiercer reputation than their American cousins.. The Nile crocodile’s powerful jaws hold 64 to 68 sharp, pointed teeth, which are replaced if they get broken. Regrettably, people who own dangerous pets without a license aren’t too prone to this type of responsive behavior. Let’s find out. Does the Nile River have crocodiles? The Nile crocs can grow up to 17 feet, some three feet longer than the Florida crocodile. — The first, a hatchling, was found on a front porch and sent to a Louisiana reptile exhibit. All three Nile crocodiles were captured in extreme South Florida. However, the newly found Nile crocodile is a very different beast. ). The Nile Crocodile Invades Florida! How did these creatures get to Florida… The first documented appearance of the Nile crocodile in Florida was back in 2012, when someone caught it and had to release it back into the wild due to lack of a proper permit. The Nile Crocodile Is Not Limited To The Nile River. Because Nile crocodiles are larger, they can easily compete with the much smaller Floridian reptiles, and even hunt them for sport. How Nile Crocodiles Could Affect Florida’s Ecosystem. However, average-sized specimens are 16 feet long and have a weight of 500 pounds. This means that, when one or more escape under these circumstances, the incident will go unreported and lead to complications. By the time it was recaptured in 2000, it had grown to almost 10 feet. How did these creatures get to Florida, nearly 8,000 miles from South Africa? Terms of Use The giant reptiles have also been reported in … On its native continent of Africa, it is known as a vicious man-eater that claims around 200 lives per year. In addition to this, there are also quite a few species of them out there, and their traits are heavily influenced by their geographical location. To Southeast Asia, was found on a porch and sent to a reptile. 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