Know Before You Go
Saltwater Crocodile Facts | Australia North Wildlife Guide
Known as “salties” in Australia, this species is the largest crocodile in the world and is also the largest reptile in the world. They can grow to 23 feet long and weigh over 2,200 pounds. They can remain underwater for up to an hour as they wait for unwitting prey to approach the bank of a river or shore of an estuary. They then burst out of the water, grab the prey in the most powerful bite of any animal on earth, and drag it underwater where it drowns. They have a valve that closes their throat to enable them to keep their mouth open while submerged.
Saltwater crocodiles are always on the alert. They are capable of “unihemispheric sleep,” where only one side of the brain shuts down at a time. This allows them to avoid predation (not that they have many predators besides humans!), and also be ready to take advantage of potential prey.
