Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater crocodile is a species of crocodile found in India, Southeast Asia and Australia. It is the largest living reptile in the world. Unlike other crocodiles, it is less sociable and more territorial. The species is far less terrestrial than other species of crocodiles. In spite of being lethargic, they are agile predators.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Reptilia |
Order | Crocodilia |
Family | Crocodylidae |
Genus | Crocodylus |
Scientific Name | Crocodylus porosus |
Other Names | Estuarine Crocodile, Marine Crocodile, Indo-Pacific Crocodile, Sea-going Crocodile |
Size | Male: Rarely exceeds 6m, but can reach 7m Female: Generally up to 3m; largest recorded specimen measures around 4.2 m |
Weight | Male: 400 – 1000kg Female: 80 – 100 kg |
Color | Adults are dark dull green with few apparent lighter gray or tan areas; some have pale skin while still others may appear blackish; juveniles are pale yellow with black spots and stripes on the bodies and tails; lower surface is white or yellow irrespective of ages; stripes on the lower sides of the body while tails are gray with dark bands |
Distribution | East coast of India, much of Southeast Asia, Northern Australia |
Habitat | Saline and brackish mangrove swamps, deltas, estuaries, lagoons, lower stretches of rivers |
Diet | Hatchling feed on small fish, insects, frogs, small aquatic invertebrates; juveniles and subadults feed on various amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs, birds, small to medium-sized mammals like monkeys, gibbons, porcupines, mongoose, wallabies, civets, jackals, other reptiles like snakes and lizards in addition to the above preys; adults feed on deer, wild boar, kangaroos, orangutans, dingos, water buffalo, gaur in addition to the preys of the juveniles |
Hibernation Fact | Hibernate during dry or drought times |
Breeding Season | Wet season; September and October in Australia |
Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
Clutch Size | 40 to 90 eggs |
Incubation Period | 12 weeks |
Reproductive Age | Male: Around 16 years of age Female: 10 to 12 years of age |
Average Lifespan | More than 70 years; some specimens exceeded 100 years |
IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Saltwater Crocodile Pictures Gallery
Published on November 8th 2016 by staff under Crocodiles,Crocodilians. Article was last reviewed on 7th June 2019.