Australia is home to two of the world’s 14 species of Crocodiles, the endemic ‘Freshwater Crocodile’ and the world’s largest living reptile the ‘Saltwater Crocodile’. Salties can reach lengths of around 6m while freshies can grow up to 3m.

Crocodiles, like their cousins the alligators and the gharials (collectively known as the Crocodilians) are specially adapted to life in the water. They have a long laterally compressed tail and webbed feet (at the back only) for swimming. They can close their nostrils, ears and throat when underwater and they even have a clear, third eyelid to help make them watertight.

Saltwater Crocodiles can hunt by sitting at waters edge with only their nostrils, eyes and ears above the surface. From here they can ambush large prey items such as birds and large mammals (including humans).

Crocodiles occur in tropic regions of the world and in Australia they inhabit the ‘top end’, along the northern coasts.

Fun Facts

• Baby crocs make noise from inside their eggs

• Salties have one of the most powerful bites on the planet

• Crocodiles can’t stick out their tongues

• Crocodiles swollow stones to aid in digestion

• Crocodiles are one of the oldest living animals on the planet, first appearing almost 240 million years ago