Crocodile
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Saltwater Crocodile
Taxonomy
Family: Crocodylidae
Scientific Name: Crocodylus Porosus
Common Names: Salt water crocodile, Saltie, Estuarine
croc, Man eating croc, Ocean going croc, Puk-Puk (Australia & PNG).
Distribution: Northern Australia, and Australian neighbouring
island countries.
Habitat
As its’ name suggests the Saltie has a high tolerance
for salinity compared to most other crocodile species. It is commonly
found in brackish water around coastal areas and estuaries, sometimes
seen in open ocean-Also known to inhabit deep inland river systems.
Nature
Salties’ are the most aggressive and territorial of all
Crocodilians. Males are territorial all year round whereas females are
only territorial when protecting their young (November-May).
Female salties are the only reptiles known to protect their eggs, and
also guard their hatchlings (for about two months) until they are able
to fend for themselves.
Any Intruders entering the territory of Saltwater crocodiles should
do so with extreme caution as the possibility of an attack is ever present.
Reproduction
Male salties’ reach sexual maturity between 12-15 years
of age (3-3.5m [10-11.7ft] long) and females in 10-12 years (2-2.5m).
Reproduction takes place during the regional wet season (Nov-Mar). Salties’
lay an average of 40-60 eggs in a mound nest. The hatchlings sex ratio
is dependent upon the average nest temperature. More males are produced
at temperatures above 31.6°C. Eggs hatch after 90 days with hatchlings
being between 20-30cm in length. Less than 1% of hatchlings reach sexual
maturity.
Population/Size
Salties are confirmed to be the largest living crocodilian
specie and are in fact the worlds’ largest living reptiles in
terms of body mass per square inch (the Anaconda being the largest in
total weight). Adult males on average grow to 5m (15ft) in length and
weigh between 400-500kg. Adult females on average grow to 2.5-3m (8
to 10ft) and weigh between 200-300kg. The longest accepted report of
a saltie comes from Papua New Guinea. Its’ hide was measured by
a zoologist in Australia in 1982. It measured 6.3m (21ft) (an additional
centimetre was added to allow for shrinkage etc). It was believed to
have weighed between 1.2 and 1.5 tonnes.
Salt-water crocodiles have the longest life span of all Crocodilians,
on average they live up to 50years. The longest living individual kept
in captivity was “Gomek” who was aged between 70-80years
old.
Australia and Papua New Guinea hold the largest wild Salt-water crocodile
populations. It is estimated that the population in these two countries
is between 100,000 and 150,000. The Saltie is not on the endangered
species list, although some wild populations have been depleted in various
countries (such as Irian Jaya and Sri Lanka). There is an estimated
200,000 to 300,000 still living in the wild.
For more information view the next page of images.