Crocodile - finger puppet by Sterntaler

If a crocodile turns up in a picture book, its small double on a finger can join in right beside the page. The Sterntaler finger puppet crocodile brings Punch and Judy down to pocket size. Green plush and the long snout make the figure instantly recognisable. Even children who cannot yet manage a full-size figure get on well with it.

True crocodiles (Crocodylidae) are cold-blooded and control their body temperature with sun and shade. They often lie on the bank for hours with their jaws wide open: the body soaks up warmth while the open mouth helps to keep the head cool. Hatchlings start out small and keep growing throughout life, though more slowly with age. The young hunt insects and small fish at first, while adults move on to considerably larger prey. Crocodiles live in rivers, lakes and swamps across the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

Did you know that a crocodile closes its jaws with tremendous force, yet the muscles that open them are surprisingly weak? An adult's jaws can be held shut with bare hands, although that is strongly discouraged. Vets and researchers make use of this weakness: a few turns of tape keep the jaws safely closed during an examination.