Australian Saltwater Crocodile
Below
are some Australian
saltwater crocodile facts.
It is the so-called Saltwater, or Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus, and it is the world's largest crocodile.
Although the other one of Australia's two species of crocodiles, the Freshwater Crocodile Crocodylus johnstoni is also found in Cape York, the larger, saltwater one is the only deadly one.
It is a massive animal that can weigh over a tonne. Adults reach easily up to five to six metres of length, but the largest one ever shot in Australia was eight metres long!
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Australian Saltwater Crocodile is easy to distinguish from the freshwater species by their size and by their broad snout - which reflects the large prey those animals eat.
They are opportunistic feeders and they often hunt near water's edge, where they catch kangaroos, feral pigs and other large prey. They can take animals as large as buffaloes and cattle - so they can easily kill and eat a human.
They have a good eyesight and good night vision, and they are often active during the night time.
They also have a good sense of smell, and a good feeling for vibration. They don't need to see, hear or smell you - if you are around, they know it from the vibration in the ground.
They breed during the Wet Season (October - April). Female lays eggs in a mound, often in the high grass close to riverbanks.
Once the eggs hatch, the female looks after the young for up to five weeks. Despite that, very few survive and reach adulthood. The eggs are threatened by floods, heat and goannas that eat them.
The young are so small they can be killed by turtles, fish, birds of prey and other crocodiles.
But once they are adult they have nobody to fear except us and each other.
They were hunted a lot until 1974 for their skin. Even today, the skin of farmed crocodiles is valuable, and croc meat is also popular. However they are protected now so it is illegal to shoot them.
Habitat destruction is now their worst threat, particularly with more and more people moving to northern Australia.
It is important to respect that this is croc country. We don't want to lose them - they are a very important part of both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, and being top predators they keep the habitats clean and the ecosystems in balance.
Australian Saltwater Crocodile is found in northern Australia - in the oceans, along the coasts, in the river mouths and rivers, and even in freshwater lagoons and billabongs hundreds of kilometres inland from the coast.
They are also found around Torres Strait Islands, and islands of the Great Barrier Reef. It may first seem like it is very hard to see them.
But that's if you try to spot them from your car window while driving along the highways.
Like any animals, they like to be away from the noise and development.. but if you take your time and go watching in swamps and along the rivers in northern Australia, you can see them.
Just be careful and stay away from them to avoid a crocodile attack.
Australian Saltwater Crocodile photographed from a boat in Daintree River.
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