Did you know that the saltwater crocodile has the strongest bite of any living animal? With a bite force of over 3,000 pounds per square inch, this formidable reptile tops even the great white shark.1
An ancient marvel of evolution, the saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile and a fierce predator that has thrived since the age of the dinosaurs. If that’s not impressive enough, scientists have discovered they can ‘surf’.
An Ancient Lineage
Saltwater crocodiles, or “salties” as Australians affectionately call them, are members of an ancient order of reptiles, the crocodilians, that first appeared around 240 million years ago in the Mesozoic Era.
While the dinosaurs perished, crocodiles persisted, remaining largely unchanged for eons. It’s thought their cold-blooded metabolism allowed them to weather the cataclysm that ended the age of dinosaurs.
The Biggest of the Big
Salties are the largest living crocodilians and the biggest reptiles in the world. Males commonly reach 17 feet and 1000 pounds, but monsters over 20 feet long and weighing a ton are not unheard of.
The largest on record, captured in the 1980s, was a 20-foot titan. From tiny 60-gram hatchlings, salties can grow to gargantuan sizes over their 70-year lifespans.
Powerful Predators
Equipped with around 68 teeth, heavily armored hide, and immensely powerful jaws that can exert 3,700 pounds of bite force, saltwater crocodiles are formidable predators.
Young salties hunt fish, frogs, and crustaceans, while adults will ambush and overpower almost any creature that ventures too close to the water’s edge, including water buffalo, wild boar, and even sharks. Salties are infamous for occasionally attacking humans.
Stealthy Aquatic Hunters
Saltwater crocodiles are most at home in the water. Despite their bulk, they are excellent swimmers, using their powerful tails to propel them swiftly through the water or even out to sea.
They can remain submerged for extended periods, lying in wait to ambush prey at the water’s edge. While they can swallow small prey underwater, salties must lift larger kills above the surface to feed.
Masters of the Brackish Zone
As their name suggests, saltwater crocodiles can tolerate saline conditions, allowing them to inhabit coastal brackish waters and even venture out to sea. However, they are also found in freshwater rivers and swamps.
Their range extends from eastern India through Southeast Asia to northern Australia, with the largest population in the rivers and wetlands of Australia’s Northern Territory.
Caring Mothers
Female salties lay clutches of around 50 eggs in nests they construct on riverbanks. Interestingly, nest temperature determines the sex of the offspring – cooler nests produce mostly females, and warmer nests have more males.
Mothers guard their nests fiercely and will assist the hatchlings to the water, providing protection for the first few months. Infant mortality is high, though, with only about 1% surviving to adulthood.
Conservation Comeback
Hunted extensively for their valuable hides up until the 1970s, saltwater crocodile populations dwindled perilously low. However, after receiving full legal protection in Australia, their numbers have rebounded significantly.
Current estimates suggest a population of around 200,000 in Australia alone. While no longer critically endangered, continued monitoring and management is crucial to ensure these magnificent creatures continue to thrive in Australia’s tropical north.
Fascinating Physiology
Saltwater crocodiles have a number of unique physiological adaptations:
- As cold-blooded reptiles, they cannot sweat and must bask with their mouths open to regulate body temperature.
- They have a valve at the back of their throat that seals off their breathing passage, allowing them to open their mouths underwater.
- They are capable of unihemispheric sleep, resting one half of their brain at a time while keeping the other half alert, often sleeping with one eye open.
Sprinters on Land & in Water
While they may look cumbersome out of water, saltwater crocodiles can actually move with surprising speed when needed. On land, they can sprint at speeds up to 6.8 mph in short bursts.
In the water, they can swim at speeds up to 6.2 mph.
They Can ‘Surf’
Saltwater crocodiles have been observed “surfing” ocean currents to travel long distances between islands in the South Pacific (ref).
By riding the currents, they can journey hundreds of kilometers without expending much energy, despite being relatively poor swimmers over long distances. These surfing behaviors help explain how saltwater crocodiles have been able to spread across such a wide range and maintain genetic mixing between populations on different islands.
Sophisticated Communicators
Saltwater crocodiles are highly intelligent reptiles with a sophisticated repertoire of vocalizations. They communicate using a variety of sounds including barks, hisses, growls, and chirps.
Juveniles make high-pitched distress calls, while adults issue threat hisses at intruders. During the breeding season, males produce low frequency bellows to attract mates and assert dominance.
Cultural Icons
Crocodiles hold a significant place in the cultures of northern Australia and the island nations of Oceania. In many traditional societies, they are revered as totems and seen as symbols of strength, cunning, and wisdom. Their image is often incorporated into indigenous art, and they feature prominently in creation stories and mythologies of the region.
Keystone Species
As apex predators, saltwater crocodiles play a crucial ecological role in their habitats. By controlling prey populations, they help maintain the delicate balance of these complex ecosystems.
Their presence is often an indicator of a healthy environment. Crocodiles also create microhabitats through their nesting and burrowing activities, providing shelter for other species during the dry season.
Living with Salties
As human populations expand into crocodile territory, encounters between people and salties are becoming more frequent. While attacks on humans are rare, they do occur, making crocodile safety awareness essential for those living and working in croc country. A healthy respect for these powerful predators and sensible precautions can ensure peaceful coexistence.
The saltwater crocodile is a true survivor, a relic from a prehistoric past that still reigns supreme in its domain today. While fearsome predators demanding our respect and caution, they are also a vital part of the ecosystem and a unique part of Australia’s rich fauna.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.