Crocodile

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Sajan wrestles a crocodile, albeit a small one.
Crocodile

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(Creature)
Dire crocodile
(Creature)

Type
CR
9
Environment
Warm rivers and marshes
Alignment
Source: Bestiary, pg(s). 51
Hetkoshu
(Creature)

Type
CR
12
Environment
Warm rivers and marshes
Alignment
Source: Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs, pg(s). 54

Crocodiles are large, carnivorous reptiles that can be found along the banks of Golarion's tropical and sub-tropical rivers and marshes. They are part of the crocodilian family of reptiles. They prefer to hide partially submerged at the edges of streams and swamps and wait for prey to approach, whereupon they burst from the water with astonishing speed, grasp their victims in their powerful jaws and drag them underwater. They typically grow to about 14 feet in length, and weigh upwards of 1,400 pounds.1

Variants

Dire crocodiles

The dire crocodile (or sarcosuchus) is a monstrously large cousin of the common crocodile, found near the banks of Golarion's rivers and swamps. They have been spotted in such diverse climes as the banks of Lake Encarthan in central Avistan,2 and the island of Jalmeray in the Obari Ocean (where locals call them Mukara and believe them to be the mounts of an unnamed goddess of rivers).3 Dire crocodiles are among the many animals that can be summoned by powerful druids and other magic-users.4

Hetkoshu

Hetkoshu are black-scaled dire crocodiles native to the rivers of Osirion (the Sphinx, the Crook, and the Asp), in addition to the Golden Oasis at the edge of the city of Shiman-Sekh.56 Averaging 30 feet in length and weighing up to 45,000 pounds, hetkoshu pose a significant threat to the people who live in close proximity to their hunting grounds, and are considered to be one of the most dangerous animals in all Garund.78 Hetkoshus prefer to attack from surprise, rushing their prey with incredible speed and devouring one or more of their victims whole before they even realize that they are in danger. Any who survive this initial onslaught are quickly dragged into the dreaded "death roll", in which the hetkoshu tucks in its legs and rolls, wrenching its victims back and forth.8

Marine and saltwater crocodiles

Marine and saltwater crocodiles are sea or ocean variants of the standard crocodile with the latter variant the larger of the two at about twice the size of a land-based crocodile.9

Alligators

Alligators are in the same family as and are very similar to crocodiles, with most of their differences being in their snout, teeth, and preference for freshwater habitats over salt water. However, they are considered a distinct species.10

On Golarion

Crocodiles can be found across the fertile Maharev region of the kingdom of Qadira.11

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. Paizo Inc., et al. “Monsters A to Z” in Bestiary, 51. Paizo Inc., 2009
  2. Joshua J. Frost. City of Golden Death, 6. Paizo Inc., 2010
  3. Matthew Goodall. Cult of the Ebon Destroyers, 15. Paizo Inc., 2011
  4. Jason Bulmahn, et al. “Spells” in Core Rulebook, 351. Paizo Inc., 2009
  5. Jason Nelson & Amber Stewart. Osirion” in Osirion, Land of Pharaohs, 10–11. Paizo Inc., 2008
  6. James Jacobs, et al. The Inner Sea World Guide, 146. Paizo Inc., 2011
  7. Erik Mona, et al. “Appendices” in Campaign Setting, 247. Paizo Inc., 2008
  8. 8.0 8.1 Alex Greenshields, et al. “Bestiary” in Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs, 54. Paizo Inc., 2014
  9. Alex Greenshields, et al. “Bestiary” in Island of Empty Eyes, 85. Paizo Inc., 2012
  10. Alligator, Wikipedia. In the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, alligators reuse the mechanical features and statistics of crocodiles.
  11. Jessica Price. “Adventuring in Qadira” in Qadira, Jewel of the East, 37. Paizo Inc., 2017