Mugger crocodile

Mugger crocodile Temporal range: Late Pleistocene–Present, 0.1–0 Ma[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
CITES Appendix I (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Archosauromorpha
Clade:	Archosauriformes
Order:	Crocodilia
Family:	Crocodylidae
Genus:	Crocodylus
Species:	C. palustris
Binomial name
Crocodylus palustris (Lesson, 1831)[2]
Distribution of mugger crocodile
Synonyms[3]
Crocodilus palustris Lesson, 1831 Crocodilus vulgarts var. indicus Gray, 1831 Crocodilus bombifrons Gray, 1844 Crocodilus trigonops Gray, 1844 Crocodylus palustris subsp. kimbula Deraniyagala, 1936

The mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) is a medium-sized broad-snouted crocodile, also known as mugger and marsh crocodile. It is native to freshwater habitats from southern Iran to the Indian subcontinent, where it inhabits marshes, lakes, rivers and artificial ponds. It rarely reaches a body length of 5 m (16 ft 5 in) and is a powerful swimmer, but also walks on land in search of suitable waterbodies during the hot season. Both young and adult mugger crocodiles dig burrows to which they retreat when the ambient temperature drops below 5 °C (41 °F) or exceeds 38 °C (100 °F). Females dig holes in the sand as nesting sites and lay up to 46 eggs during the dry season. The sex of hatchlings depends on temperature during incubation. Both parents protect the young for up to one year. They feed on insects, and adults prey on fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.

The mugger crocodile evolved at least 4.19 million years ago and has been a symbol for the fructifying and destructive powers of the rivers since the Vedic period. It was first scientifically described in 1831 and is protected by law in Iran, India and Sri Lanka. Since 1982, it has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Outside protected areas, it is threatened by conversion of natural habitats, gets entangled in fishing nets and is killed in human–wildlife conflict situations and in traffic accidents.