The saltwater crocodile (
Saltwater crocodiles have a huge range that extends from northern Australia to eastern India and South-east Asia. As their name suggests, saltwater crocodiles are able to live in coastal habitats, but they are comfortable in freshwater rivers as well.
Croc Country (considered to be typical crocodile habitat) begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone, and extends northward, up the east coast and across far north and north west Queensland to the Northern Territory border. Crocodiles can sometimes also be found outside of croc country.
American crocodiles occur in South Florida and also can be found in Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, along the Caribbean coast from southern Mexico to Venezuela, and along the Pacific coast from Mexico to Peru. The northern end of the crocodile's range is in South Florida.
Antarctica and Europe are the only continents without native species of crocodile. 2.
The iconic crocodile found in Africa, the Nile crocodile is the second largest crocodile in the world, reaching a typical adult length of 4.5 metres (14.7 feet). The Nile crocodile is quite widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the Nile Basin, and Madagascar in rivers, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps.
At least two crocodilian species are known to have occurred in the recent geological past of Japan: the Chinese alligator and Toyotamaphimeia.
Today it is limited to the lower Yangtze, primarily in the Anhui and Zhejiang provinces in eastern China. Chinese alligators are found in slow-moving freshwater rivers and streams, including lakes, ponds and swamps.
Tragically, Europe has no natural crocodiles, outside of zoos at least – not because of primordial hunters but because the cooling planet caused a reptilian retreat to warmer climes, say scientists, following a massive review of data of climatic history and the entire known fossil record of crocodilians.
Unlike our neighbour, Australia, New Zealand isn't known for its deadly creatures. You won't find any crocodiles or poisonous land snakes here…
More crocodiles in the NT
There is estimated to be around 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the wild in the NT. There are more saltwater crocodiles in the NT than Queensland and Western Australia (WA).
Saltwater crocodiles were once threatened with extinction in Australia due to commercial hunting. This led to their protection in 1971 in the Northern Territory and a recovery of their numbers in the wild. The conservation crisis is well and truly over.
To reach this size, Groh said, this crocodile likely had the benefit of warm weather, plenty of room to roam and large prey to hunt. "Optimal climate conditions (such as in some places in Australia) with few cold periods make it easier for the crocs to grow larger," Groh said.
Salt Water Crocodiles exist in many areas of Indonesia, including the coastal regions of East Nusa Tenggara. Crocodile sightings in Bali are, however, very rare.
Crocodiles are a tropical creature. They are common in Australia, but are not found in cooler Tasmania.
The Nile crocodile is Africa's largest, and most widely distributed, crocodile. It can be found in Egypt in the North, through Central and East Africa, down to South Africa. The largest specimens and concentrations of these crocodiles are in the lakes and rivers of Central and East Africa.
The historical range of this biggest living reptile is a vast ocean-dominated kingdom.” A number of crocodile species readily reside in brackish habitats, but two are by far most comfortable in marine settings: the American croc and the Indo-Pacific (aka "saltwater") croc.
Crocodiles were a constant threat to the ancient Egyptians. They lived in all regions — in swamps and marshes and along the Nile River. And there were a ton of them.
The world's largest living reptile, the saltwater crocodile is found in brackish and freshwater habitats extending east-west from East India to Fiji and north-south from southern China to northern Australia (see a map of the region).
With only about 100 Siamese crocodiles estimated to be living in the wild in Thailand, the species is technically teetering on local extinction. Crocodile farmers, meanwhile, are raising millions of the animals in captivity, but also not faring so well.
The largest reptiles on the planet, saltwater crocodiles not only live in northern Australia but have made their way to the South Pacific. As a result, their entire range also includes Fiji, China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, the Sunda Islands, and Vanuatu.
With an average of 75 crocodiles per square mile, the Tárcoles River in Costa Rica is the perfect setting for the world's highest concentration of crocodiles. This river is a popular tourist destination because of its crocodiles, believe it or not.
Freshie, a saltwater crocodile that lived to 140 years old.
The largest one ever officially measured was Lolong, who was a saltwater crocodile that measured 20 feet three inches long and weighed 2,370 pounds. Unfortunately, he died of congestive heart failure in February 2013. The largest crocodile alive is Cassius who is over 100 years old.