Salt Water Crocodile
The Salt Water Crocodile is the world’s largest reptile. The maximum recorded size of the Salt Water Crocodile is 7 m; the average size is 4 m. It inhabits the northern coast of Australia and up to 100 km inland. Besides Australia, these animals are found in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Solomon Islands, and numerous small islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It’s an aquatic animal found in brackish waters and in freshwater rivers.
The Salt Water Crocodile breeds in the wet season. Females lay 40 to 60 eggs at a time. The sexing of the juveniles depends on the temperature in the nest. 31.6 C is a necessary temperature for developing males; other temperature levels give females. About 1% of the hatchlings survive to maturity. The youth is raised in fresh water, while adults prefer salt water.
The Salt Water Crocodile is a very efficient hunter. It feeds on everything it can overpower, including humans. Every year, one or two attacks on humans are reported in Australia. The hunting technique of the Salt Water Crocodile is waiting for the prey to come close and dragging it into the water. Great jaw pressure of these predators allows killing very large animals. For instance, the Salt Water Crocodile can drag an adult buffalo under the water and crush its skull.
The conservation status of the Salt Water Crocodile is the Least Concern. These animals are well adapted to their habitats. They have no predators, but in some areas, they suffer much from human encroachment. They are poached for their hides and killed for their reputation of man-eaters. Eggs and juveniles of the Salt Water Crocodile may be eaten by feral pigs and lizards. The only serious threat to adult Salt Water Crocodiles is other crocodiles. These animals are very territorial. Young and weaker crocodiles are pushed out into the sea to find a new territory. While exterminated from the Seychelles island, the Salt Water Crocodile is protected in Australia. Hunting the Salt Water Crocodile is illegal in Australia, but native tribes have a right to hunt it.
