Saltwater crocodile

Crocodylus porosus · The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile, found in coastal waters, wetlands and rivers from India's east coast across Southeast Asia to northern Australia.

Also called Estuarine crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile, Marine crocodile, Saltie, Salt-water Crocodile.

Saltwater crocodile
Photo: Ganjarmustika1904, CC BY-SA 4.0
Saltwater crocodile
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Saltwater crocodile
Photo: Fabian Roudra Baroi, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderCrocodilia
FamilyCrocodylidae
GenusCrocodylus
SpeciesCrocodylus porosus

Where it lives

Coastal rivers and mangroves from eastern India to northern Australia.

Fun facts

  • Saltwater crocodiles have the strongest bite of any living animal.
  • A crocodile's jaw muscles for opening are so weak that its jaws can be securely shut with several layers of duct tape.
  • Saltwater crocodiles ride ocean currents to travel far; one tracked crocodile swam 590 km along the coast in 25 days.
  • By slowing their heart rate and oxygen use, saltwater crocodiles have been reported to stay underwater for up to two hours.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).