Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti, 1768.

Length up to 600 cm (6m). Large, lizard-like, aquatic reptile with an elongated narrow snout; powerful jaws with long, sharp teeth that fit into the opposed sockets when the jaws are closed. The tail is laterally compressed; heavy plates of bone form an armor underneath the dorsal scales; the eyes and nostrils protrude above the dorsal surface of the head to facilitate breathing while the animal is submerged; eyes with elliptical pupils. Webbing between digits with the hind limbs more webbed than the forelimbs. The dorsum is dark olive-brown with black transverse bands on the back and a tail that become fainter in adults; underparts are yellowish. The Nile Crocodile is more or less aquatic; an excellent swimmer that inhabits rivers, lakes, and swamps; it is found, infrequently or accidentally in brackish or marine waters. It prefers areas with exposed sandy shores for basking. It is mostly nocturnal and is carnivorous, foraging in or near water but during the breeding season, it aggressively guards the nest against intruders. This fairly advanced maternal care is unique among reptiles. In Egypt, it is found in the Nile Valley and is currently restricted to Lake Nasser, where there is a fairly substantial population. Its global range extends throughout sub-Saharan Africa. However, it has become generally rather uncommon and should be regarded as threatened.