Wet Lands

Salt water
or
estuarine
Crocodile Crocodile

Two types of Crocodiles are found in Australia, the Freshwater Croc and the Saltwater (Estuarine) Croc. The Saltwater Croc is the biggest reptile in the world.
Salt vs. Fresh

1) Fresh water crocodiles have a narrower snout.
2) Fresh water crocodiles and are smaller than the salt water crocs.
3) Fresh water crocodiles can only live in fresh or slight salty water, while the salt water crocodile can survive in both types of water.
4) Salt water crocs lay eggs in nests of vegetation while fresh water crocs lay their eggs in sand.
5) Fresh water crocs' teeth are shaped more like needles for piercing fish.
6) Salt water crocs reproduce in the WET season while fresh water crocs reproduce in the DRY season.


Fresh Water Croc Salt Water Croc

Croc Location Location
Found along Australia's Northern Coast and up to 200km inland, from Rockhampton to Queensland,  and from the "Capricorn Coast" to Broome in Western Australia.

Habitat
As the name suggests, these crocodiles are mainly found in estuaries where tidal rivers meet the sea. This watery habitat is often mangrove lined. They can also be found sometimes in the open sea or inland in freshwater swamps and billabongs.

Description


Quick on Land & in Water One of the world's largest reptiles, the "Salty" has a broad stubby snout with cone-shaped teeth. Its average length is 4 meters, but males 6 to 7 meters have been reported. Saltwater crocs have rows of bony scales on their neck and back.  Their coloring is mainly grayish brown with brown and yellow sides. Their rear feet are webbed to aid with swimming. It is thought that they live up to 70 to 100 years of age. Their clear eyelids enable them to see underwater.
Webbed feet


 

 

 

Thermo Regulating Behavior

Often you will see a saltwater crocodile gaping. This enables the croc to cool down, as a lot of its time is spent thermo regulating. The croc must maintain a body temperature between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius. The  crocs are cold blooded (their blood temperature is affected by the weather around them).

Feeding

Feeding on Fish The feeding strategy of a salt water croc: the croc  waits close to the water's edge and pounces upon its victim in the blink of an eye . The usual prey of younger crocs is smaller animals such as fish, crustaceans, crabs, insects, etc. Adults can also attack and eat larger animals by overpowering and then drowning them (the teeth are designed more for holding)  The adult croc's food sources include fish, turtles, birds, turtles, reptiles, mammals (dingoes and wallabies), even domestic cattle and people. After the prey is dead, the croc will break the prey up into smaller pieces by violent flicking of the head.  Moreover it  snaps or breaks bones by twisting and rolling the body. Larger crocs will also take carrion if hungry.

Breeding

As already mentioned, nesting takes place in the wet season after males fight for the females. baby crocodile The female croc builds a nesting mound of vegetation, mud and soil about 2 meters long and lays between 40 and 60 leathery eggs inside it. This mound raises the eggs above the water level,  saving them from drowning.  The female then guards the nest for 3 months until the young crocs, using a special egg tooth on the top of their snout, break free from their eggs. Carefully carrying her young in her mouth, she takes them to the water. In the wild, only about 1% survive to be adulthood.



Status of Estuarine Crocs in Australia

In 1970, estuarine crocodile become a protected species because prior to this intense hunting had drastically reduced numbers. Though croc numbers have increased since 1970, many crocs are still lost. Dangerous large crocs are relocated away from human contact if necessary.

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