A crocodile cannot chew, so it tears prey apart and swallows large chunks.

The longer version

The jaw of a crocodile is built for grip, not grinding. Its teeth are simple cones that hold rather than slice, and the joint allows little sideways movement, so the animal cannot rotate its jaw the way a mammal does when processing food.

Instead, a crocodile seizes prey and spins its whole body in a rolling motion to tear off manageable pieces, or drags a large carcass underwater and lets time soften it. Swallowed stones in the stomach, known as gastroliths, may help break food down further. An enormous bite force compensates for the lack of chewing, and a valve at the back of the throat keeps water out of the airway while feeding below the surface.

Where this entry sits

This collection gathers small surprises about mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, insects, and the pets living alongside people. Expect odd details about senses, anatomy, and everyday behaviour that many people never notice in the animals around them. The full list sits on the Animals page, where every entry is listed in order.