Every birth, human or animal, is a miracle. While we know how human births (and in a more general sense, mammal births) work, others can still be a bit of a mystery.
Seeing a birth with your own eyes is a totally different experience than just knowing about the biology behind them. That's why almost every video of an animal in labor is truly fascinating.
But here's something truly incredible: a baby crocodile is born but doesn't seem to know that he is out of his shell!
The little guy is still trapped inside the amniotic sac and is curled up, waiting to be free. He is fully formed — all he needs to realize is that he's ready for his first steps and that first breath of fresh air.
This is a rare enough phenomenon that doesn't happen every day, but this isn't the first time we've seen it. Check out this mom, who reached down in between her legs and gave birth to a child still wrapped in his amniotic sac.
Thumbnail photo: Facebook / The Reptile Report
After they reach full development inside an egg, crocodiles emerge out into the world.
If they're having trouble piercing the shell, crocodile moms will take the eggs in their mouths and roll them back and forth to loosen it.
However, nearly 99% of baby crocodiles are eaten in their first year of life by predators.
If they're lucky, though, they can live for up to 80 years!
This tiny crocodile was "born" still in his amniotic sac, and has yet to take his first breath despite being out of his shell.
Crocodile eggs have an incubation period of about 80 days, but this also depends on the temperature: the warmer it is, the faster they grow.
A mother crocodile can lay up to 60 eggs at a time, too!
She will guard her eggs attentively, and continue to do so for about six weeks after the birth of her young.
Twins can even be born from the same egg, as seen from this shot coming out of China.
This little one will grow over the years, potentially reaching a length of five feet!
Please SHARE if you were in awe seeing this tiny crocodile still in his amniotic sac!
