Saltwater crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is the largest reptile on Earth. A big male can grow to about six metres long, which is longer than a small car, and weigh as much as a thousand kilograms or more. Females are much smaller, usually staying under three metres. Their tough, scaly skin is dark on top and pale underneath.

These crocodiles live where warm rivers meet the sea, in muddy estuaries, mangrove swamps, and along the coast. They are strong swimmers and can move between saltwater and freshwater. You can find them from the east coast of India, across Southeast Asia, all the way to northern Australia.

A saltwater crocodile is a patient hunter. It floats almost hidden in the water, with just its eyes and nose showing, and waits very quietly. When a fish, bird, or other animal comes close, the crocodile moves in a sudden, quick burst. It eats many kinds of food and can go a long time between meals.

Baby crocodiles start out tiny. A mother builds a big nest from mud and plants and lays her eggs inside. She stays close by to guard them. When the babies are ready, they make little chirping sounds, and she carefully digs them out and carries them down to the water in her mouth, keeping them safe.

There are healthy numbers of saltwater crocodiles in the wild today, and experts list them as least concern. Long ago they were hunted for their skin, and in some places they are still hunted or lose the wild wetlands they need. Careful rules and protected areas help these ancient reptiles keep thriving.