Question

Crocodile lives for about
A) 10 years
B) 20 years
C) 40 years
D) 60 years

Answer 1

Crocodiles are semi-aquatic reptiles which have powerful jaws with many conical teeth and short legs with clawed webbed toes. There are around 16 to 17 species of crocodiles of which each species has their own different lifespans.

Complete answer:
There is currently no reliable way of measuring the age of crocodiles, although several techniques can be used to derive a considerable estimate on that.
The most common method is to measure ‘lamellar growth’ rings in bones and teeth where each ring corresponds to a change in growth rate and that typically occurs once a year between dry and wet seasons.
This is problematic for animals living in tropical climates as the growth rates within a year vary much lesser than those in temperate climates where distinct seasonal changes can be noticed.
But, most of the species have an average lifespan of 40 years (that is, in a range between 30 to 40 years).

Hence the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: Larger species of crocodiles are expected to live for 60 to 70 years. The oldest crocodiles appear to be the largest species. C. porosus is estimated to live around 70 years on average, with very scarce evidence might also be there where the lifespan exceeds the 100 years benchmark.