SALTWATER CROCODILE
Crocodiles porous
The saltwater crocodile of Australia’s northern waters is the continent’s most aggressive land predator apart from man. It is one of only two species in the most ancient of the earths are among the most ancient of the earths creatures, having survived substantially unchanged for more than 180 million years. They evolved from prehistoric reptilian life forms that also gave rise to dinosaurs, pterosaurs and other animals long since extinct.
Saltwater crocodiles are efficient predators which specialize in hunting at the waters edge. They can remain seemingly motionless for long periods, but don’t be fooled by their inertness. They are watching and waiting for food and can strike without warning.
METABOLISM
In water, only a small part of their head is exposed to potential prey, the bulk of their body remaining hidden beneath the water. The main sense organs eyes, ears and nostrils are positioned on the exposed part of the head. Their muscular tail which makes up almost exactly one half of the total length of the saltwater crocodile is flattened like a paddle and swishes from side to side to propel the animal through the water. Although they have a flap of skin at the back of their jaw which allows them to grasp prey under water, they can only swallow food above the water. They have 40-60 teeth used for grasping rather than chewing and food (fish, birds, mammals of any size) is swallowed whole or in chunks. Mature crocodiles need to eat only once a week, thanks to their slow metabolism.
WET SEASON
Confined to the northern and northeastern coasts of the Australian continent, saltwater crocodiles breed during the summer wet season. On the riverbank on a mound of vegetation, the female lays 50-70 eggs. She then covers the nest with more vegetation and the eggs are incubated by a combination of heat from the sun and from the decomposing material. Interestingly, the temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. The mother is known to help dig the hatchlings out of the nest and carry them gently to the waters edge in her mouth. This behavior is unique among reptiles. The newborn crocodiles are about 25 cm when born. Only 10% survive the first three months after hatching.
