They swim primarily by snakelike movements of their bodies and by powerful strokes of their muscular, oarlike tails, which are also effective weapons. A crocodile can also open its mouth when in the water due to a special valve in its throat. It allows the jaws to open without allowing water to move down the throat. When crocodiles float in the water, they leave only their nostrils, eyes, and ears above the surface. Their eyes can be covered with semitransparent membranes, much like a third eyelid and the ears and nostrils can be closed over by folds of skin.
Young crocodiles eat worms and insects.
As they mature, they add frogs, tadpoles, and fishes to their diets. Older crocodilians nocturnal and solitary and they feed on other vertebrate animals as well as fish. The dwarf crocodile kills its prey and devours it immediately. Usually with crocodilians animals that are too large to be swallowed whole are either torn to pieces or are drowned and permitted to decay in burrows. The dwarf crocodile forms a land home by burrowing with its paws.