It can be great fun to learn what people have decided to call a group of animals, as there are truly some very creative names that have been thought up!
For example, we’ve all heard about what you call a group of crows. Well, if you’ve been wondering what to call a group of crocodiles, you’re in luck!
A group of crocodiles on land is called a bask and a group in water is called float. “Bask” supposedly came from the crocodiles’ tendency to bask in warm sunlight for hours at a time. “Float” is the term used when crocodiles float passively in water when they are hunting for prey.
So, why exactly did researchers come up with these names for a group of crocodiles? Keep reading to have all your questions on this topic answered!
We already gave you a brief answer earlier, but let’s look closer to get the full picture.
Why is a Group of Crocs Called a Bask or Float?
The mighty crocodile, the dominator of the water age, is still around today despite being around since pre-historic times.
Researchers concluded that crocodiles have been on the earth for more than 65 million years, first evolving back when the dinosaurs still lived.
These huge creatures are awe-inspiring and terrifying all at once, capable of running a maximum speed of 22 mph and delivering a killing blow with a single bite of their massive jaws.
Crocodiles are cold-blooded reptiles and rely on their surroundings to regulate their body temperatures.
They’re not like mammals, which can regulate their body temperatures by themselves.
Crocodiles will lay out in the sun to maintain healthy body temperatures to warm themselves. You will often see them doing this in large groups, laid out together in the sunlight near a body of water.
This is the main reason for the most commonly used name for a group of crocodiles, a bask, precisely because you will often find groups of crocs basking together.
The word float is the other word used for a group of crocs. It might seem just as strange or stranger of a word to use, but there is a reason behind it.
Another common situation where one might find a group of crocodiles is when they’re floating near the surface of a river, lake, or ocean.
Crocodiles do this to allow them to breathe while still keeping an eye out for passing prey. With most of their bodies submerged under the water, they’ll also be far less visible this way. So, the word “float” makes sense, too.
What Kinds of Crocs Form Groups?
Believe it or not, some species of crocodiles are much more social than others. While crocs don’t generally form social groups among themselves, they like to hunt in groups together.
Let’s examine some of the most common crocodile species and their grouping behaviors.
1. Saltwater Crocodiles
Saltwater crocs are the largest member of the crocodile family, growing up to 20 feet long and weighing up to 1200 lbs. As you can probably guess, these leviathan reptiles are formidable hunters, and as such, do not require the help of other crocs to get a kill.
They hunt and live in the ocean, making them better swimmers than some of their distant cousins. Saltwater crocodiles are a more solitary species of croc and don’t typically form basks or floats.
2. Nile Crocodiles
The Nile Crocodile is commonly found throughout African freshwater rivers and streams. While not quite as large and formidable as their Saltwater cousins, they can still grow up to 15 feet long and weigh up to 900 lbs on average.
Because they don’t navigate the open oceans, they are more likely to form basks or floats to help each other hunt or for safety.
3. Mugger Crocodiles
Mugger Crocs are a subspecies of crocodiles mainly found in Asia and the Northern parts of the Middle East. Their average size is close to that of the Nile Crocodile, and they are also likely to form basks for hunting and safety.
4. American Crocodiles
American Crocs are typically found in Southern Florida, along the coasts of Mexico, and throughout tropical regions of South America. They are typically smaller than other species of croc, coming closer to the size of an alligator.
American Crocodiles are likely to form basks and floats for hunting and the safety of numbers.
Final Thoughts
Crocodiles truly are some of the most impressive predators on the planet, having outlived countless species over the millions of years they’ve been around. And with their masterful ability to adapt, they aren’t going anywhere soon.
A group of crocodiles is known as a bask or a float, due in part to their tendency to group while basking in the sun or floating on the surface of a body of water.
These words may seem strange to call a group of animals, much like the names chosen for groups of other animals, but the reason behind it makes sense.
We hope this article has answered all your questions about crocodiles and what to call a group of them.
Hopefully, you don’t run into a bask of crocs out in the wild, but if you do, at least you’ll know what to call them!
For more interesting facts on other groups of animals, check out more crocodile articles below:
- Can Alligators and Crocodiles Climb Trees?
- Do Crocodiles Have Tongues? [ Exploring Nature’s Puzzle ]
- Can Crocodiles Regrow Limbs?
- How Long Can a Crocodile Go Without Eating?
- Can Crocodiles Feel Pain?
RELATED QUESTIONS:
1. What Is a Group of Baby Crocodiles Called?
People also like to come up with special names for baby animals. Think puppies for dogs, kittens for cats, or chicks for birds.
Well, the same is true for baby crocs. A baby crocodile is known as a hatchling, and groups of baby crocs are called hatchlings. They do not typically reach maturity until 4 years of age, at which time they’ll be ready to form basks with other adult crocs.
