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Crocodiles are big reptiles that live in warm places like Africa, Asia, Australia, and the mid Americas. They like to hang out in rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Crocodiles don't like the cold and are super sensitive to it.
Sometimes people call alligators and gharials "crocodiles" too, because they look similar, but they're actually different families, like cousins.
Crocodiles have long, pointy snouts, while alligators have wider, U-shaped ones. A cool way to tell them apart is to look at their teeth. When a crocodile closes its mouth, you can still see its bottom teeth peeking out. But when an alligator closes its mouth, its bottom teeth hide inside.
Crocodiles are meat eaters (carnivores). They love to munch on fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals. They are very goods hunters.
Crocodiles have been around for a really long time, about 55 million years! That's even longer than the dinosaurs. Sadly, some types of crocodiles are in danger of disappearing forever, so it's important to protect them.
The word "crocodile" comes from an old Greek word meaning "lizard." The Greeks called them "lizards of the river."
Crocodiles are super dangerous, don't get too close!