This strange creature climbs as well as a lizard, but prefers to live in water and has the same shape as a crocodile…
Yen Tu mountain range (Quang Ninh province) is famous for its sacredness and beautiful scenery of primeval forests. This is also the place where a very strange animal exists, which can startle many people when they encounter it. This animal is called the crocodile lizard. True to their name, they are an incredibly perfect combination between a lizard and a crocodile, two animals with huge differences in size, appearance, lifestyle…
This “monster” resembles a lizard in that it is quite small in size (body and tail length is just over 30cm), has the ability to move flexibly, and is very good at climbing trees. Scientifically, they are also classified as lizards.
Crocodile lizards possess an appearance similar to crocodiles with rough, jagged skin…
On the other hand, they possess an appearance similar to a crocodile with rough, jagged skin, especially a long tail with two rows of jagged, upright spines. They also like to live underwater, with excellent swimming and diving abilities and a hunting style that lurks under the water like crocodiles.
Scientists consider crocodile lizards to be very rare and little-studied reptiles. In the world, they only appear in some forests of Hunan, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces of China. In Vietnam this species was discovered in the Yen Tu mountain range.
Currently, their existence in nature is threatened by shrinking forest areas, polluted habitats as well as being hunted for sale to reptile collectors.
Below are some general images of the “crocodile hybrid lizard”:
Especially the long tail has two rows of jagged, upright spines.
Like crocodiles, they are half-land, half-water animals.
If found on a stream bank, many people will mistake them for baby crocodiles.
The short and round face is the highlight to recognize that they are not crocodiles.
They also do not have the deadly jaws of river killers.
Hiding below the water’s surface is a hunting tactic similar to crocodiles.
Small animals are the favorite food of crocodile lizards.
Their “lizard nature” is reflected in their ability to move flexibly and climb trees very well.
Currently, the existence of crocodile lizards is facing many threats.
