Muddy Crocodile

Feared by the people who work along the muddy rivers of the southern deltas, the Muddy Crocodile is a fierce hunter with a voracious appetite. Although one of the small freshwater crocodiles, it often takes on prey up to five times its size. The locking muscles on its jaw when combined with several rows of offset teeth means that once it grasps its target the only way out is when the affected limb is severed, something that is very common.

The Muddy Crocodile is so-named because it inhabits sandy bottomed rivers and deltas where its dark mottled coloring make it nearly invisible on either the river or partially buried on the shore.

When hunting from the shore the muddy crocodile will roll in the mud to cover its body then use its sharp claws to dig a partial hole in the earth. From here it will remain motionless for hours until prey comes to the river to drink or hunt. Its speed on land is surprising, allowing it to burst from hiding and catch must faster animals before they have time to react and flee.

In the water, the muddy crocodile hunts in the same fashion as other crocodiles except that it tears with its teeth instead of rolling to stun its prey. This is because the muddy crocodile does not have the strength or weight of its larger cousins. It will still dive under the river to drown its prey, but because most of its hunting territory has shallow rivers it rarely uses this method.

If a muddy crocodile is spotted before it attacks the best thing to do is look it straight in the eye and back away slowly. This tells the crocodile that it has been spotted, but because of its poor depth perception it cannot effectively tell that you are moving directly away from it. Instead, the muddy crocodile will stay perfectly still until you have looked away — then pouncing on you while you are distracted.

If the muddy crocodile is charging you the best advice is to move in line with the crocodile. If you are fast then moving away may tire the crocodile out before it catches you. If you are slowly moving forward will shorten the time the crocodile has to position itself for the attack; often allowing you to get in the first strike. If closing for combat the key advantage is to keep the muddy crocodile's mouth closed. Its jaws are very strong while closing, but very weak while opening.