Sana+Barclay+Salt+Water+Crocodile

Salt Water Crocodile
 * Common Name: ** Saltwater Crocodile, The World’s Largest Reptile
 * Scientific Name: **  Crocodylus Porosus

**Natural Habitat:** Salt Water Crocodiles are found in billabongs, swamps, or in fast moving rivers. Originally were founded in Australia, but due to their aggressiveness towards humans they were chased out and eventually migrated up to Bangladesh, Brunei, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, China, India (including Andaman Islands), Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau (Caroline Islands), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vanuatu (Banks Islands), Vietnam. It has picked up the name Man killer because over 50% of all animal related deaths are related to Salt Water Crocodiles.
 * Niche: ** //Diet:// Primarily fish and birds but will eat any source of meat that is within range. //Size:// The Salt Water Crocodile is the world’s largest reptile, it ranges from 16-20 feet, the largest Salt Water Crocodile and reptile in the entire world measured to be 23 feet. //Requirements:// Since Salt Water Crocodiles are so fierce and large, they can easily take over and adapt to almost any aquatic habitat. Due to their high tolerance for salinity, they reside in salty waters around coastal areas. //Relationships:// Salt Water Crocodiles are Apex Predators (The very top of the food chain), so they can prey upon almost any animal within range, from monkeys to fully matured water buffalo. //Reproduction:// The females gain fertility around there 10th-12th years and males around their 16th year. Every September/October the females build a nest and then wait for the male to find her so they can reproduce. After about 80 days, the female will lay between 40-60 eggs. Directly after the female has laid her eggs she becomes extremely aggressive to protect her eggs from other crocodiles, especially males. //Group vs. Pack Animal:// Saltwater Crocodiles are territorial, so apart from mating season, you will rarely see them together. On occasion they do come together in a group (also known as a float, bask, congregation or nest) to catch large prey such as sharks or wild buffalo.


 * Population Expansion: ** Due to the Salt Water Crocodile’s status and ability to adapt to almost any situation, it would easily be able to replace the Gavial. It would be able to prey on the same animals as the Gavial did, and they lay about the same amount of eggs so overpopulation would not be a problem. One thing that could take a turn for the worst is how much the Salt Water Croc eats. Since the Salt Water Crocodile eats more than any other breed of crocodile due to their size (other crocodiles can eat just 1 animal and survive for up to a year without anything else), if they prey upon predators such as other crocodiles in the area or any other large game, they could become a dominant invasive species that could throw or possibly unravel the ecosystem.
 * Species in Competition: ** Since Salt Water Crocodiles are Apex Predators, their competition is limited to land animals like lions or other species of crocodile. Salt Water Crocodiles also are known to fight with other species and win due to their intense strength. It would be easy to for a Salt Water Crocodile to kill a Gavial and potentially wipe out Gavials as a species to take over the land and its resources.

Works Cited Animal Planet. “Crocodile.” //Wild Animals A to Z//. Discovery Communications, 10 Sept. 2008. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. . Britton, Adam. “Crocodylus porosus.” //Crocodilian Species List//. Natural History & Conservation, 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. . National Geographic. “Saltwater Crocodile.” //Animals//. National Geographic Society, 2009. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. . // Saltwater Crocodile: The World’s Biggest Reptile //. Gabriel Kaufman, 31 Jan. 2003. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. [].