Saltwater crocodile

The saltwater crocodile is the largest living crocodile today. It is also known as the estuarine crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile, marine crocodile, sea crocodile, and colloquially, the “saltie”. It is often encountered far out to sea; however, it also lives in brackish waters and, indeed, freshwater. It primarily inhabits mangrove swamps and river mouths. Male saltwater crocodiles may grow up to five metres long, while the females reach a maximum of three and a half metres. Large animals can put on as much as a ton of bodyweight. The saltwater crocodile’s nest is a mound made of mud and vegetation in which up to eighty eggs are deposited and guarded. The young continue to be watched over for up to eight weeks after having hatched. This specimen shows an emerging hatchling. It was no doubt made as part of a teaching collection.