The Saint #12: Estuarine Crocodile
Australia is home to two species of crocodiles, the Estuarine Crocodile and the Freshwater Crocodile. Both belong to the reptile family Crocodylidae (the ‘true crocodiles’), members of the sub-class Archosauria. Archosaurs were the ‘Ruling Reptiles’ which dominated life on earth hundreds of millions of years ago.
Along with dinosaurs such as ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs lived many ancient species of crocodiles, including ‘Super Crocs’ over 10 metres (33 feet) long! When most dinosaurs disappeared during the mass extinctions at the end of the Mesozoic, three groups of crocodilians survived. They have remained virtually unchanged to the present day. These are the true crocodiles (Crocodylidae), the alligators and caimans (Alligatoridae), and the gharials and false gharials (Gavialidae).
These subfamilies differ mainly in the shape of the head and snout. True crocodiles have narrower snouts than alligators, and when they close their jaws the enlarged 4th tooth on the lower jaw is exposed. There are 13 species, found throughout equatorial regions of the world. Alligators have broad, shovel-shaped snouts. When they close their jaws, all the teeth of the upper jaw fit into sockets on the lower jaw. Alligators are found in the USA and China, and 5 species of caiman inhabit Central and South America. The gharial, found only in India, has a greatly elongated narrow snout. On the male there is a bulb-like appendage on the tip. False gharials are found in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The Estuarine Crocodile is the largest living reptile in the world! Also known as the Saltwater or Indo-Pacific Crocodile, it is found from India eastwards to Papua New Guinea and throughout SE Asia. In Australia this crocodile can be found throughout the northern coastal fringe and adjacent rivers, anywhere north of about Rockhampton in Queensland, all around the coast of the Northern Territory and as far south as Broome in Western Australia.
The common names are misleading, in that Estuarine Crocodiles are not confined to salty or brackish water but can also found far inland in freshwater billabongs, rivers and swamps. Kayaking on the saltwater section of the Ross River and the Bohle River is strongly discouraged as this is Estuarine Crocodile's habitat. The freshwater sections of the Ross however are considered very safe and is a beautiful place for a paddle. It’s not unheard of for Crocodiles to be sighted around Magnetic Island and even The Strand, although it is extremely rare. In 2016 a Crocodile was captured off the Strand close to the casino and relocated to Billabong Sanctuary.
What name was it given?
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