Mugger Crocodile - Crocodylus palustris.
In: Crocodiles.Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan: 94-98.
Third Edition, ed. by S.C. Manolis and C. Stevenson. Crocodile Specialist Group: Darwin.
Aus dem Inhalt:
The mugger is a hole-nesting species, with egg-laying taking place during the annual dry season. Females become sexually mature at approximately 1.8-2 m, and lay 25-30 eggs. Nests are located in a wide variety of habitats, and females have even been known to nest at the opening of, or inside, their burrow. In captivity, some Muggers are known to lay two clutches in a single year, but this has not been observed in the wild. Incubation is relatively short, typically lasting 55-75 days. Like a number of other crocodilians, C. palustris is known to dig burrows. Whitaker and Whitaker (1984) referred to mugger burrows in Sri Lanka and India (Gujarat and South India) and noted that yearling, sub-adult and adult mugger all dig burrows. In Iran they are sometimes known to dig two burrows close to each other, which may be used by one or more crocodiles (Mobaraki 2002). These burrows are presumably utilized as an effective refuge from hot daytime ambient temperatures. These burrows play a critical role in the survival of crocodiles living in harsh environments, allowing them to avoid exposure to excessively low and high temperatures (<5ºC and >38ºC respectively) for long periods of time, which may be lethal. Mugger are known to undertake long-distance overland treks.
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