Random Insane, Otherworldly Creatures Of Nile River (12 items)

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  (#1) Black mamba

  • Organism Classification

  Black mamba snakes are not named for their exterior color, but rather the inky black that appears inside their mouth. Since they are one of the world's most venomous and deadly snakes, the inside of a black mamba's mouth is not what you want to see. Their highly toxic venom can kill a person in 20 minutes if left untreated. If that's not scary enough, these deadly snakes are extremely aggressive and have the ability to move up to 12 miles per hour. When they attack, they will often strike more than once and inject a good amount of venom each time. Although there is an antivenom, it's not widely available in parts of Africa, another reason the black mamba is considered to be so deadly.
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  (#11) Nile perch

  • Organism Classification

  The Nile perch spends a lot of time eating, and the enormous size to which their body can grow proves just how big an appetite they have. A Nile perch can weigh up to 500 pounds, measure up to 6 feet long, and since these monster fish live off crustaceans, insects, and other fish, you can imagine how much they'd have to eat to become that big. Besides eating, Nile perch also enjoy mating. Females can produce around 9 million eggs that are able to hatch in only 20 hours. Although most of these young won't survive to adulthood, Nile perch are quickly becoming an invasive species, eating and breeding their way onto the IUCN's 100 Worst Invasive Species list.
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  (#4) Hippopotamus

  • Animal

  Translated to "river horse", hippopotami may appear slow and dumb, but in reality they are anything but. Although they spend a lot of time in the water, they will make their way onto solid ground to consume up to 80 pounds of grass every night. That doesn't seem like very much food for the third biggest animal on Earth, which might be a reason why they can also be very crabby. Hippos can be extremely aggressive, dominating their territory to the point that crocodiles and even lions and hyenas will stay away from them. They have also been known to attack boats and people in the water, although they are usually protecting their young from threats in these cases.
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  (#8) Monitor lizard

  • Organism Classification

  The monitor lizards found around the Nile River may not be as big as their crocodile relatives, but they are still some of the largest lizards in Africa, able to grow up to almost 80 inches long. They use their powerful tails to swim like pros, but can also whip them with strength and accuracy when self-defense is needed. Nile monitors are known as vicious predators and are not discriminating about their prey, killing and consuming fish, frogs, birds, and small mammals. They have also been observed using teamwork to distract female crocodiles from their nest while another lizard steals her eggs.
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  (#6) African Rock Python

  The largest snake in Africa can also be found around the Nile River. African rock pythons can grow up to 20 feet long and are not known for being friendly. They can be extremely aggressive when provoked or hungry and have killed humans. Although they are not venomous snakes, they will constrict themselves around their prey, tightening their grip each time the victim exhales. Rock pythons swallow their prey whole and are able to consume animals as big as crocodiles and antelopes. Their digestive system is so sophisticated, a huge meal gives them enough to digest for an entire year.
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  (#2) Nile crocodile

  • Animal

  One of the scariest and most deadly creatures to live in the Nile River is the Nile crocodile. The biggest of all Africa's crocodiles, Nile crocs can weigh as much as 1,650 pounds and measure up to 20 feet long. They are extremely aggressive and skilled predators, hiding in the river, snatching their prey from the shore with their long powerful jaws, and dragging it underwater to drown. Hundreds of humans are attacked and possibly killed every year by these scary creatures, proving Nile crocodiles are opportunistic eaters and will go after whatever prey they can, regardless of species.

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