Crocodile
- See also: Crocodilian, deinosuchus, and werecrocodile
Crocodiles are large, carnivorous reptilian predators that live in along or in lakes, rivers, and swamps suited to warm saltwater climates. They are part of the crocodilian family of reptiles. They prefer to hide partially submerged at the edges of streams and swamps, where they resemble logs,1 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. Size and weight vary by species and can range from 5 to 20 feet in length, with the largest weighing more than 2,000 pounds.2
Variants
Dire crocodiles
Dire crocodiles, also called sarcosuchuses, are monstrously large cousins of common crocodiles that live in some of Golarion's rivers and swamps. They have been spotted in such diverse climes as the banks of Lake Encarthan in central Avistan3 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.4
Hetkoshus
Hetkoshus 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, hetkoshus 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. Alligators are also more capable of adapting to colder temperatures. However, they are considered a distinct species.110
On Golarion
Crocodiles are common in many parts of Golarion, and are well known 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.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 . “Crocodile” in Monster Core, 69. Paizo Inc., 2024
- ↑ Crocodile on Wikipedia.
- ↑ . City of Golden Death, 6. Paizo Inc., 2010
- ↑ . Cult of the Ebon Destroyers, 15. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ . “Osirion” in Osirion, Land of Pharaohs, 10–11. Paizo Inc., 2008
- ↑ . “Osirion” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 146. Paizo Inc., 2011
- ↑ . “Appendices” in Campaign Setting, 247. Paizo Inc., 2008
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 . “Bestiary” in Osirion, Legacy of Pharaohs, 54. Paizo Inc., 2014
- ↑ . “Bestiary” in Island of Empty Eyes, 85. Paizo Inc., 2012
- ↑ Alligator on Wikipedia. In both Pathfinder First Edition and Pathfinder Second Edition, alligators reuse the mechanical features and statistics of crocodiles.
- ↑ . “Adventuring in Qadira” in Qadira, Jewel of the East, 37. Paizo Inc., 2017
External links
- Crocodile (real-world animal) on Wikipedia
- Nile crocodile (real-world animal) on Wikipedia
- Saltwater crocodile (real-world animal) on Wikipedia
- Alligator (real-world animal) on Wikipedia
- Thalattosuchia (real-world extinct animal) on Wikipedia
- Sarcosuchus (real-world extinct animal genus) on Wikipedia