Buzz
Caimans, crocodiles, and alligators rank among the planet’s most thriving reptiles. Despite extensive research, these creatures continue to maintain an air of mystery. For some inexplicable reason, insects are drawn to their tears, and orange crocodiles are evolving within caves.
These reptiles also spend time in trees, use pool noodles, and can be unexpectedly turned into mummies. While their alarming habit of attacking humans persists, crocodiles might prove helpful to mankind in strange ways. They may one day serve as prison guards, and their blood could be crucial in the battle against HIV.
10. A Bloody Baptism
Ethiopia's second-largest lake is known as Abaya. The murky waters hide a large population of crocodiles. These reptiles are undernourished due to the disappearing fish in the lake. Starving, hard-to-spot crocodiles would likely keep most people from entering the water. But that didn't stop a Protestant congregation from the nearby town of Arba Minch.
In 2018, 80 individuals ventured down to the lake for a mass baptism. The ceremony ended up baptizing just one person... because things went horribly wrong. As the vicar, Docho Eshete, was about to baptize the second individual, a crocodile erupted from the water. In the chaos, the civilian was pushed aside, but the crocodile seized Eshete.
Fishermen attempted to trap the crocodile before it could retreat deeper into the lake, and eventually, the church members managed to pull the clergyman away from the reptile. Tragically, Eshete had already passed away.
9. Butterflies Sip Their Tears
In 2013, a team of researchers drifted down the Puerto Viejo River in Costa Rica. During their boat ride, the crew captured images of wildlife, but something unusual occurred. Several times, butterflies and bees were seen hovering around the eyes of crocodilians.
In one instance, the insects were observed drinking the tears of a spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus). The team was puzzled by the behavior and soon discovered that they weren’t the first to witness this phenomenon.
As early as 2012, scientists had recorded bees sipping the tears of turtles. Other research also documented butterflies visiting turtle eyes. In fact, photographs taken by tourists and wildlife photographers had already captured this strange occurrence.
It’s clear that the insects rely on reptile tears as a vital resource for survival. The most likely explanation is that they are mining salt. Sodium is essential for insect metabolism and reproduction. The insects may also be getting other nutrients such as micronutrients, proteins, and enzymes. It remains unclear whether the reptiles gain any benefits in return.
8. They Can Climb Trees
Crocodiles can be found resting in trees, a behavior that’s more common than one might expect. Four species of tree-dwelling crocodiles have been identified across three continents.
In Mississippi, a photograph captured an American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) perched on a branch 2 meters (6 feet) above the Pearl River Delta. In Central Africa, a slender-snouted species climbed a 4-meter-tall (13 feet) bank to settle on a branch. While most climbing crocodiles were small juveniles, the largest recorded case involved a 2-meter-long (6.5 feet) Nile crocodile.
Researchers suggest two main factors behind this unusual behavior. Many of the climbers were found in areas with few basking spots. Being cold-blooded, these reptiles need the Sun’s warmth, and when ground space is limited, a branch provides a suitable alternative.
Additionally, when disturbed, the reptiles would fall from the branches and quickly disappear into the water. This behavior indicates they might use the elevated perch to keep watch over their surroundings and, if necessary, make a swift escape.
7. Death Row Sentinels
In 2015, Indonesia grew frustrated with human guards. Prisoners frequently bribed the guards to allow escapes. Moreover, despite Indonesia’s strict narcotics laws, which mandate execution by firing squad for offenders, jail officials were often arrested for drug-related crimes.
Budi Waseso, the country’s anti-drug chief, came up with a creative solution. He needed intimidating guards who had no interest in accepting bribes or using drugs. His solution? Crocodiles.
The plan involved creating a prison on an island, exclusively for drug offenders on death row. Instead of human staff, the island would be overrun by these fearsome reptiles.
Waseso stated that the concept is still in its early development. However, he is committed to locating the most aggressive crocodiles available and transporting them to the island in large quantities.
6. The Half-Albino Crocodile
A rare crocodile was seen in the Northern Territory's Adelaide River in Australia. This large male was a semi-albino. While most of his body displayed the typical dark color, his head was hypo-melanistic, with a yellow hue due to low levels of pigment. The formidable creature was the dominant male in the region.
In 2014, the crocodile attacked and killed a fisherman who had ventured too far into the river. A few hours later, the crocodile was shot dead. An autopsy revealed that the creature had been a strong and skilled survivor.
Few albino crocodiles reach adulthood due to their bright bodies, which offer no camouflage. This particular male not only survived but also engaged in brutal fights. His body bore numerous scars, missing limbs, and a particularly violent adversary had torn a large chunk from his flank.
5. A Potential Cold Case
MJ the crocodile resided at Koorana Crocodile Farm near Rockhampton in Queensland. MJ was a massive reptile, measuring 4.7 meters (15.4 feet). In 2019, MJ passed away following a fierce battle with another large crocodile at the farm. An autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death. To the surprise of the team, the stomach contained an artificial object.
It was an orthopedic plate, complete with six stainless steel screws. The age of the plate (an older model) suggested it had been ingested up to 50 years ago, possibly with the person or pet it belonged to. Unfortunately, decades in stomach acid had eroded the serial number that could have identified the original owner. The only clue left was that it had been manufactured in Switzerland.
MJ had resided at Koorana for six years after being transferred from another farm. Nevertheless, he was originally captured from the wild. Many believe that before his capture, MJ had consumed a human, and the orthopedic plate in his stomach could be the key to solving a cold case of a missing person.
4. The Noodle Incident
Victor Perez’s house was located in Key Largo, Florida. In 2018, while relaxing on his balcony, Perez noticed something odd floating in the nearby canal. It was a bright yellow pool noodle. Known for their buoyancy and flexibility, pool noodles are commonly used as toys and aids for swimming. However, this one wasn’t being used by a human.
To Perez’s surprise, a crocodile was lying on the noodle, using it to glide through the water. While crocodiles are frequently seen in the canal, this was the first time one had been spotted floating casually on a noodle.
It was unclear how the swimming aid ended up in the canal, what had happened to its human owner, or why the large crocodile seemed completely unfazed by the situation. Perez shared photos of this bizarre encounter on his Instagram account.
3. HIV Fighter
Researchers believe that crocodile blood could hold the key to curing HIV and combating antibiotic resistance. In 2019, a study observed an intriguing phenomenon. Crocodiles often suffer serious injuries from each other, yet despite living in bacteria-laden water, they are able to heal without infection.
Intrigued by the crocodile’s remarkable resistance to bacteria, scientists collected blood samples, created two serums, and exposed them to harmful bacteria. One serum was made from human blood, and the other from crocodile blood. The results were revealing: the human serum killed eight out of 23 bacterial strains.
The crocodile serum swiftly obliterated all the bacterial strains, including the notoriously dangerous MRSA. It also caused a significant reduction in HIV levels within human blood. Furthermore, when human cells infected with HIV were exposed to crocodile blood, the virus was suppressed. This breakthrough could provide insight into how HIV impacts the immune system and how it might be combated in the future.
2. Vibrant Orange Crocodiles
In 2008, a fascinating discovery was made in Central Africa. In Gabon, a new population of dwarf crocodiles was found living in dark caves, feeding on crickets and bats. These crocodiles had orange scales, setting them apart from others. Genetic tests revealed that their DNA was completely distinct from any known crocodile species.
The most exciting aspect was that these creatures were in the process of evolving into a new species, and researchers had the rare opportunity to observe their transformation up close. The fast pace of their genetic changes was unusual, likely due to their isolated, dark environment.
The reason these crocodiles resemble pumpkins is thanks to bat guano. When bats drop their excrement into the water, it releases significant amounts of urea, a chemical that darkens their hides. This may also explain why the crocodiles become more orange as they age.
Interestingly, it is only the younger crocodiles that venture out to reproduce. They rely on rotting vegetation to incubate their eggs, a resource that is absent in the caves. It remains a mystery whether older crocodiles also breed in the caverns and, if they do, what method they use to incubate their eggs.
1. Crocodile Mummy Stuffing
Since 1828, a crocodile displayed at the National Museum of Antiquities in the Netherlands had intrigued visitors. The 3-meter-long (9.8 ft) mummified creature was preserved approximately 2,500 years ago. In the 1990s, X-ray scans revealed that two adult crocodiles were used to create the illusion of one large specimen. The scans also showed blue anomalies, but the details were unclear, leaving the mystery unsolved.
In 2016, the museum team decided to scan the mummy once more. The initial goal wasn’t to investigate the mysterious blue marks. Instead, the scan was aimed at creating a program that would allow visitors to perform a virtual autopsy on the mummified creature. But when the advanced images came back, they revealed an astonishing surprise.
The blue marks turned out to be 47 baby crocodiles, all mummified and packed inside the adult crocodile. This arrangement was likely crafted as a tribute to Sobek, the Egyptian god depicted with a man’s body and the head of a crocodile.
