Page 126 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators

Sharks & Ocean Predators
WorldMags.net

Honed senses and killer instincts

The saltwater is the largest and most aggressive of all the crocodile species,
using its natural abilities and honed senses to survive

Crocodiles do most of their hunting in the evening and at tear the animal into more-manageable chunks, which can
night. They are primarily sit-and-wait ambush predators, then be swallowed swiftly.
so spend their time partially submerged in the water, with The aggressive thrashing, lunging and fi ghting displayed
barely more than their eyes and nostrils poking out of the by the saltwater crocodile is fuelled by anaerobic
surface. They are agile swimmers and can dive for long respiration. This rapid method of generating energy
periods of time without even surfacing to breathe. They without oxygen enables them to ambush their prey at
are also able to slow their heart rate to just two or three high speed, using their tails to propel themselves out of
beats per minute. When in the water, they use their lungs the water and tackling their target to the ground before
as a buoyancy aid and are also known to eat stones, which dragging it under. However, it results in the build up of
act as a ballast, helping to stabilise their large bodies lactic acid in the blood, lowering the pH and building up
below the surface. an oxygen debt. In order to repay this debt, the crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles also pack a combination of sharp needs to rest after periods of intense activity and can only

senses to stalk their prey. They have keen eyesight and the fight or hunt in very short bursts.
backs of their eyes are covered in guanine crystals that A crocodile can survive for extended periods of time
reflect the light, enabling them to see more effectively in without feeding, so the majority of its life is sedentary. Like

the dark. Sensory pits on their heads also enable them to other reptiles, they are cold-blooded and don’t generate
feel changes in the vibrations within the water. enough body heat to maintain a constant temperature,
Smaller crocodiles feed mainly on crustaceans, insects instead relying on their environment to heat and cool their
and mammals, but their diet varies depending on the bodies. During the day, saltwater crocodiles spend most of ABOVE A saltwater crocodile lying
location. Saltwater crocodiles use their teeth for impaling the time basking in the Sun. The bony scutes that make up at the shore of a swamp, basking in
the rays of the Sun
and securing their prey, but they are ineffective when the armour plating on their backs are covered in tiny blood
it comes to chewing. Instead, they swallow their prey vessels and act like miniature solar panels, absorbing heat
whole, relying on extremely acidic stomachs to dissolve and warming their bodies. If they become too warm, they RIGHT With the nostrils and eye
tough tissues such as bone and horn. For larger prey, the open their mouths, seek shade or enter the water to cool sockets positioned on the top of its
skull, a crocodile is able to stalk its
crocodile thrashes its muscular body, swinging its head to themselves down.
prey while nearly totally submerged
Saltwater crocodile diet Crocodiles are capable of
sudden bursts of energy
to surprise their prey, but
only for short periods

HATCHLING JUVENILE ADULT

All teeth but no bite Triple the size, triple the threat A ravenous adult

Despite having a full set of teeth, A er a year, the crocodiles have more Mature saltwater crocodiles are apex
newly hatched saltwater crocodiles than tripled in length and are capable predators and their diet is restricted
are small, measuring under 30 of hunting a much wider variety of only by their size. Most of the time

centimetres (12 inches) in length. prey. They catch fish underwater, adult crocodiles eat smaller animals,
They cannot really tackle prey any lunge at small mammals on land and including crabs, sea turtles, birds, and
larger than insects or very small leap into the air to capture birds. wild boar. However, seven-metre (23-
crustaceans and fish. foot) adult males can bring down prey

as large as a water buffalo.

Crocodiles are agile
swimmers and can
spend up to an hour
submerged underwater

“A crocodile can survive
for extended periods of

time without feeding”

WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net