Salutations to the Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), also known as the estuarine crocodile, is a species of crocodile found in the coasts and islands of southeast Asia, and the northern coast of Australia. As their name implies, saltwater crocodiles reside in saltwater and brackish environments, including coastal mangroves, river deltas, swamps, and floodplains. Adult C. porosus may also occasionally be seen out at sea, as they are proficient swimmers capable of traversing between islands and coastlines.
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest species of crocodile, and indeed of all reptiles. Males are significantly larger than females; adult males can range anywhere from 3.5 to 5 m (11 ft 6 in – 16 ft 5 in) in length and weighs between 200 to 1,100 kg (440 to 2,430 lb), while females range only a measly 2.7 to 3.4 m (8 ft 10 in to 11 ft 2 in) in total length and weigh 76 to 200 kg (168 to 440 lb). Both sexes are olive, with a lighter underbelly and darker spots along the back.
C. porosus's breeding season occurs in the wet season, beginning in September or October. After a female selects her mate, the pair dig a nest, and the female lays a clutch of 40-60 eggs. The pair then guard the nest together until the eggs hatch about 90 days later. The sex of the hatchlings is dependent on the average temperature at which the egg was incubated; between 28–33° C (82-91° F) the hatchlings are predominantly male, while incubation temperatures on either side of that range produce predominantly female hatchlings. The female continues to care for the hatchlings, guarding them by carrying them in her mouth, until they disperse at about 8 months old. Young reach sexual maturity at 10 years old, and individuals may live for as long as 70 years.
Saltwater crocodiles are active mainly at night, and spend most of the day basking on banks or partially submerged logs. As adults, they are opportunistic predators with a wide variety of prey, including mud crabs, turtles, snakes, juvenile crocodiles, birds, buffalo, kangaroos, tigers, wild boar, monkeys, and humans. As juveniles, they target smaller prey such as insects, amphibians, crustaceans and small fish. They hunt via ambush, dragging their prey back into the water for easier consumption. Adults have no natural predators, but juveniles are frequently predated upon by monitor lizards, larger fish like barramundi, wild boar, storks, eagles, and pythons.
Conservation status: C. porosus is considered Least Concern by the IUCN. They are often hunted for their skin, meat, and eggs, although international trade of saltwater crocodile parts is prohibited. They are also hunted for their perceived threat to nearby human populations. Habitat loss and human encroachment is also a major threat for estuarine crocodiles.
Photos
Fabian Roudra Baroi
Jafet Potenzo Lopes
Shubhra Shu