CrocBITE

The mugger crocodile is a medium-large sized species capable of reaching over 4 m (13 ft) in length. The current distribution of the species consists primarily of the Indian subcontinent (India and Sri Lanka being the current strongholds), as well as some adjoining areas; the species may have been more widely distributed in historic times. Mugger crocodiles prefer freshwater river, lake and marsh habitat, but they are a highly adaptable species that can also be found in man-made reservoirs, estuaries and even irrigation canals. The diet of the species is size dependent and its unusually broad-snout (the broadest of any crocodile species) allows for a more generalized selection of prey. Juveniles are restricted primarily to invertebrates and small fish, while adults may prey upon larger fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals such as deer, monkeys and even buffalo. Mugger crocodiles kill a handful of humans ever year, but the species does not appear to view humans as a prey item in the same way that the saltwater crocodile and Nile crocodile do. Current threats to the species include drought (particularly in Iran) and human population pressure. 

Estimated Wild Population: 5,000-10,000

Conservation Status: Vulnerable.