'''Crocodiles''' and their close relations [[alligator]]s, [[caiman]]s and [[gavial]]s, are a family of predatory, aquatic [[reptile]]s. Crocodiles are found throughout the warm parts of the world - in sub-Saharan Africa, India and South-East Asia, Indonesia and Australia, and throughout tropical America. Until recently Nile crocodiles were also found throughout North Africa, and in Palestine <ref>http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Palestine#Fauna</ref>. The largest Nile and Estuarine crocodiles may grow to 25 or even 30 feet in length, but this is not normal.
In the [[Theory of evolution|evolutionary view]], crocodiles emerged in the late [[triassic]] period from early archosauromorphs, at the same time as [[dinosaur]]s and true [[mammal]]s.
=== Species of crocodile ===
== Uses of crocodiles ==
Crocodiles are commercially farmed in many places, for their leather, which is made into expensive shoes and handbags, and recently, in Australia, for their meat, supposed to taste like chicken. Unlike [[alligator]]s, they are not used for wrestling.
== Man-eating crocodiles ==
Most crocodiles are not aggressive good-natured unless provoked, but three species, the Nile crocodile of Africa, the Mugger crocodile of India (for whom [[mugging|muggers]] are named) and the Estuarine crocodile of Australia and South-East Asia, have a long history of attacking humans.
== Crocodiles in the Bible ==