How do crocodiles mate?

Crocodile mating takes place almost entirely in the water, and it usually begins with a gentle courtship display

New Delhi | September 12, 2025 12:30 PM IST

3 min read

Did you know the sex of crocodile babies is determined by the temperature around it? (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Who would’ve thought crocodiles are very tender when it comes to mating? Though it may not look romantic by human standards, crocodile courtship and reproduction are actually far more complex than you’d imagine.

Crocodile mating takes place almost entirely in the water, and it usually begins with a gentle courtship display. During the breeding season, typically the wet season (often between July and September, depending on the region), male crocodiles become territorial and begin to attract females using a series of signals.

They may bellow, blow bubbles, and slap the water with their snouts or tails. These displays help demonstrate strength and fitness to potential mates. In some species, like the American alligator (closely related to crocodiles), low-frequency rumbles are even powerful enough to make the water “dance” around them.

Once a female shows interest, the male approaches her gently, often nuzzling or rubbing his head against hers. If she accepts him, mating occurs in the water, a slow, controlled process where the male mounts the female and aligns their cloacal openings.

It’s all about timing and temperature

Once a female shows interest, the male approaches her gently, often nuzzling or rubbing his head against hers. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

After mating, the female crocodile moves to land to build a nest, usually a mound of vegetation, mud, and sand. She lays between 20 to 80 eggs, depending on the species, and covers them carefully.

Here’s where things get even more fascinating: the temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. Warmer nests (around 31.6°C or higher) typically produce males, while cooler nests yield females. This is known as temperature-dependent sex determination, a trait shared by many reptiles.

The mother guards the nest fiercely from predators, and when the hatchlings start calling from inside their eggs, she helps dig them out and may even carry them gently in her mouth to the water. That’s right, one of nature’s most feared predators has a surprisingly maternal side.

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Mating for life?

Crocodiles don’t typically mate for life, but they do return to the same territories and nesting sites if left undisturbed.

Males are polygynous, meaning they may mate with multiple females within a breeding season. However, dominant males often establish and defend territories that overlap with those of several receptive females.

Understanding how crocodiles reproduce plays a massive role in conservation. As habitat loss, pollution, and climate change threaten crocodile nesting grounds, learning about their mating habits helps scientists protect key habitats and manage captive breeding programmes for endangered species like the Philippine crocodile and Orinoco crocodile.

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