Length of a crocodile: the maximum size of a predator known to science

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

Reptile predators have always made people feel fear and awe. Crocodiles occupy a special place in this niche, because their body shields and huge frightening mouths really look frightening. It is known that today crocodiles, or rather their intellectual abilities, have not been fully studied. Many scientists suggest that such predators are not able to think, their habits are controlled only by instincts inherent in nature. However, others, carefully trying to understand the world of reptiles, are convinced that crocodiles are endowed with remarkable intelligence. How else to explain that these predators possess such a developed and, perhaps, the most time-honed skill of disguise and hiding until the right moment?

As for other aspects of the study of predatory reptiles, science knows a lot. For example, the weight, length of crocodiles, their natural species, the unique structure of the pupil. But in this article we will talk about the maximum size in length of such a dangerous predator and the factorswhich can significantly affect this value.

Rocked crocodile

One of the largest reptiles in the world is the combed crocodile (Crocodylus porosus - lat.). It lives in fresh and s alt water in the Philippines, in southeastern Asia and in the Solomon Islands. The main feature of this reptile is two crests on the head, located symmetrically with respect to the eyes, and a unique body covered with many pointed tubercles of various sizes. It is because of such natural features that a dangerous predator can be called a bumpy, sea, brackish or spongy crocodile.

Most often, individuals of this species have a belly color from yellow to dark sand. The brightness depends on the age of the crocodile: the younger the predator, the brighter the color. The main color of the entire upper part (occipital, dorsal and caudal) is dark olive or olive brown. The length of the crocodile, which keeps in fear not only the animals that live with it in close proximity, but also people living in the vicinity of water bodies, is simply amazing.

Individual sizes

Many are very surprised when they find out what is the maximum length of the combed crocodile. In recent decades, in nature, such predators have grown only to sizes of 5.0–5.5 meters in length and weigh 500 kg. Usually, a newly hatched cub weighs about 70 kg, and subsequently one head of an adult male drags on all 200 kg. It is worth noting that this freshwater detachment has almost the brightestmarked sexual dimorphism. Male crocodile crocodile males are usually twice as big, heavier and stronger than females, which, in turn, reach only 2.7-3.4 meters in length and weigh from 70 to 150 kg.

However, such dimensions cannot be considered accurate, because the length of the largest crocodile, caught more than a century ago and having characteristic pointed growths on its powerful back, was about 10 meters, and the weight of an individual fluctuated around 3 tons. This giant was an exception to the rule for scientists, showing that under certain conditions a predator can become a truly awesome giant. In general, since then such giants could no longer be found. There were individuals smaller and shorter. Therefore, the fact that the combed crocodile has a length of 7 meters is considered reliable. It is up to such maximum sizes that some males of this species are currently able to grow.

Mass

The weight of an adult reptile predator (male), which includes a crocodile, can range from 400 kg to 2 tons. The most important factors that affect the mass of a particular representative are the age and length of the crocodile. A young male will always be lighter than an adult predator of the same size. However, it is known that captive crocodiles gain weight faster than their free relatives. Also, weight also depends on the physique. For example, individuals living in Sarawak (Kalimantan Island, Malaysia) have relatively short tails, which is why they weigh a little more thanAustralian bumpy crocodiles.

Scientists' conclusions regarding the maximum size of crocodiles

The length of the combed crocodile largely depends on its population, he alth, genetics and nutrition. This proves the study of Australian scientists. They caught males of this species, which lived in different conditions and habitats. It turns out that representatives of such predators, who had a permanent habitat, grew up to 4.31 m and weighed from 408 kg. Nomadic reptiles could not boast of such dimensions. They were only 3.89 m long and weighed only about 350 kg.

Top 5 longest crocodiles after combed crocodiles

There are a little more than 20 species of crocodiles in the world. Among them, along with the combed one, which is considered the longest in nature, there are some more individuals worthy of mention:

1. Nile crocodile, whose males can grow up to 5 m in length.
2. Orinoco crocodile with a maximum of 4.5-5.0 m.
3. Sharp-snouted American crocodile, the size of which is from 4 m.
4. Black caiman, growing in the wild up to 4.7 m. By the way, there is evidence that in the reserves it was possible to feed such beauties to almost 6 m in length.
5. Mississippi alligator - 4.0-4.5 m.

Indisputable facts

Specialists always argue about the maximum size of creatures that once lived on Earth, because it is difficult to determine, for example, even the length of a crocodile bypreserved remains (bones and skin). This method by itself underestimates the overall length of the creature, because one has to compare the ratio of the size of the skull and the skin, which is dried. This suggests that at the time when the predator remained alive, it was still longer, at least 10 cm, and there is no need to talk about the maximum. One thing is clear, that more than 100 years ago, real giants lived on our planet, the size of which now can only be speculated.