AGE: Some say age is nothing but a number. For Henry, the world’s oldest known Nile crocodile, that number is pretty big. 

He’s estimated at 125 years old. He was born around 1900 in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, and captured in 1903 after allegedly attacking humans. He’s lived in captivity ever since, and currently lives at the Crocworld Conservation Centre in South Africa.

Henry is 16.4 feet long, weighing 1,540 pounds. That’s the length of a standard sedan, or the height of a giraffe. And the weight of a large bison or a Holstein cow.

Nile crocodiles usually average 11.5 to 16.5 feet in length, and can weigh from 500 to 1,650 pounds.

Henry is a dad, too. To around 10,000 offspring with six different females. (It’s probably a good thing there’s not a 23AndMe service for crocodiles.)

The average lifespan of a Nile crocodile is 45 years. Henry’s longevity is attributed to his species’ ability to conserve energy, along with a robust immune system and consistent care in a controlled environment.

Up to 70% of the adult diet is fish. Other prey items may include zebras, hippos, porcupines, pangolins and migrating wildebeest. They are found throughout tropical and southern Africa and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, estuaries and mangrove swamps.

As ambush predators, they can wait for hours, days and even weeks for the suitable moment to attack. Like other crocodiles, Nile crocodiles have a powerful bite that is unique among all animals, and sharp, conical teeth that sink into flesh, allowing a grip that is almost impossible to loosen. They can apply high force for extended periods of time, a great advantage for holding down large prey underwater to drown.