Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile Facts
| Size | 4-21 ft (1.2-6.5 m) |
| Speed | Up to 10 mph (17 km/h) (on shore), 20 mph (32 km/h) (in the water) |
| Weight | More than 1 ton |
| Lifespan | 40-70 years |
| Food | Mammals, fish, birds |
| Predators | - |
| Habitat | India, South East Asia, Australia |
| Class | Reptiles |
| Order | Crocodiles |
| Family | Crocodilidae |
| Scientific name | Crocodylidae |
| Characteristics | V-shaped snout |
Main Characteristics
The saltwater crocodile is one of 25 crocodile species. They also include alligators, caimans and gharials. Despite being called saltwater crocodile, this species also lives in brackish and freshwater. It has a very broad body.
Anatomy and Appearance
What Are the Characteristics of the Saltwater Crocodile?
The saltwater crocodile has two bony ridges running from the eyes to the snout.
The Biggest Crocodile in the World
A saltwater crocodile with a length of 34.4 feet (10.5 meters) is supposed to live in the north of Borneo. Nobody has seen this animal, but it has left an imprint of its body on a sandbank.
Do Crocodiles Have Ears?
Have you ever see ears on a saltwater crocodile? No surprise, if not. Instead of ear cups, they have little slits which allow sounds to reach the inner ear. The slits can be closed to prevent water from entering the ear while diving. By the way: Crocodiles have very good ears and can even sense their babies crying while they're IN their eggshells.
Behavior
How Do Saltwater Crocodiles Hunt for Prey?
They mostly drown their prey before devouring it. If it is a particularly large animal, the crocodile seizes its prey and rotates around its own axis. The prey literally loses ground and is hardly able to make an escape.
Life Expectancy
Crocodiles don't get grey, but they can get rather old – probably even more than 100 years.
Senses and Abilities
Crocodiles live almost exclusively in fresh water, but of all crocodiles, the saltwater crocodile is the best to cope with the salt in the oceans. A male crocodile is said to have covered a distance of 869 miles (1,400 km) in the open sea.
Reproduction
After mating, crocodiles lay 60-80 eggs in a nest made of plants. The plants rot in the heat and produce a warm environment which accelerates the hatching process. The crocodile parents care for and protect their offspring for up to eight weeks.
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