Crocodile

The crocodilian is an ancient animal whose ancestors have roamed the earth since the time of the dinosaurs. While continents drifted, ice ages thawed and once-prolific species became extinct, the crocodilian survived it all. Today, the Australian saltie, Chinese alligator, Indian gharial and black caiman are just some of the twenty-three species of descendants found across the world. More recently, human interaction with these dangerous and intriguing animals has been reflected in myths and legends dating back to earliest recorded history. Feared or revered, crocodilians have always fascinated. Yet this interaction has come at a price, and many breeds of this seemingly indestructible species are now facing extinction because of human activity, intrusion into their habitats and retaliation for the threat they pose to humans. This is the fascinating and extraordinary story of the crocodile, one of evolution's greatest survivors.