The Saltwater Crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, is the largest living reptile in the world today... Making it also the largest crocodile on the planet over even Africa's behemoth Nile crocodile, C. niloticus. ~ Growing to over 6 metres (18ft) and 1,000kg in the wild, these animals are superbly adapted to living the majority of their lives within fresh AND salt water - despite their name. In Africa, their relatives the Nile crocodile can also tolerate both fresh and salt water, though apparently only grow to around 5m (15ft) and 800kg... Of all the crocs I've seen across Africa, this rings true (Luangwa, Zambezi, Okavango) - but of the big, evil-looking monsters that lurk in the Mara River, gorging themselves on migrating wildebeest for 4 months of the year - I'm sure these beasts rival even our largest Salties. ~ This particular male croc was photographed in Weipa, in remote Cape York. Any guesses what he’s feeding on?? Hint: It's their favourite in these parts. ~ Thanks to @cockatours and @westerncapeecotours this beauty was captured on camera and left undisturbed whilst on boat tour in the Hay/Mission Rivers inlet. Watching them hunt these critters was amazing to see! ~ Despite a harsh branding and fear from us humans, they've been here all along and are just doing what comes natural to them. Crocs like these, left undisturbed and not attracted to boat ramps or public areas by ignorant people, are as they should be. All it takes to avoid confrontation and the ugly mess that is the croc cull debate is for us to be smart, to show them respect and to understand the water is their territory - not ours. . . . . #crocsrule #salties #saltwatercrocodile #crocodylus #crocodylusporosus #crocodile #crocodiles #crocodilesofinstagram #conservewildlife #natureconservation #wildlifeconservation #saltwatercroc #australiannative #nativeaustralian #abcaustralia #abcfarnorth #ttnq #tourismqueensland #tourismaustralia #queenslandlife #queenslanders #queensland_captures #queenslandtourism #explorefnq #explorequeensland #travelqueensland #tropicalcoasttourism #capeyork #capeyorkpeninsula #weipa (at Weipa, Queensland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hXm6PlzSA/?igshid=1p7b24mrkmcxl
