Saltwater Crocodiles: Animals with the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom? Get to know about these apex predators.

When it comes to the most ferocious and apex predators in the animal kingdom, we cannot disagree with the fact that the crocodiles definitely comes on top along with the most skilled predators. But what makes them different and unique from other the other apex predators?. The modern crocodiles have been living for nearly 80 to 95 millions years while their origin species came into existence in about 240 million years ago. They are considered as the survivors from the Triassic and Jurassic period. 

They are also known for their great bite force which is one of the strongest in the animal kingdom. The specie of crocodile about which we are going to learn today is the biggest, heaviest and the most aggressive as compared to all the other species of crocodiles. These are the "Saltwater Crocodiles", which are considered to possess the ability to deliver a devastating bite force in order capture, grab, crush and tear their flesh apart. Therefore let's learn about what makes them one of the most brutal apex predators in the animal kingdom. let's go. 

Crocodylus porosus (Saltwater Crocodiles)

General info

Saltwater crocodiles are large-sized hyper-carnivorous animals (animals having more than 70% meat in their diet) and are considered as the largest/biggest living reptile to this date. They are known for their massive size and their strong bite force. Saltwater crocodiles are one of the 16 extant species of crocodiles. They are found in the coastal brackish mangrove swamps and river deltas from India's east coast, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Australia's north coast. 

Despite of the time when they were considered as threatened species, their population is now stable and are on the spot of "Least Concerned (LC)" species on the IUCN red list. Also, their average lifespan is around 70 years but they can also live over 100 years (In captivity or just by chance).

Physical Characteristics

The saltwater crocodile have big and wide body structure. They have a wide snout as compared to most of the other crocodiles. A pair of ridges runs from the eyes along the center of the snout. The scales are oval in shape and the scutes (external plates or scales overlaid with horns) are either small compared to other species or commonly are entirely absent. In addition, an obvious gap is also present between the cervical and dorsal shields, and small, triangular scutes are present between the posterior edges of the large, transversely arranged scutes in the dorsal shield.

The saltwater crocodile has the greatest size sexual dimorphism by far, of any extant crocodilian, as males average about 4 to 5 times as massive as adult females and can sometimes measure twice her total length.

Male Saltwater Crocodile (left) and Female Saltwater Crocodile (right)

On average, adult males range 14 feet 1 in to 16 feet 1 inches (4.3 to 4.9 m) in length and weigh 899 to 1,151 pounds (408 to 522 kg). However, an adult male saltwater crocodile, from young adults to older individuals, typically ranges 11 feet 6 inches to 19 feet 8 inches (3.5 to 6 m) in length and weighs 440 to 2,200 pounds  (200 to 1,000 kg). Adult females typically measure from 8 feet 10 in to 10 feet 2 inches (2.7 to 3.1 m) in total length and weigh 168 to 227 pounds (76 to 103 kg). Large mature females reach 11 feet 2 inches (3.4 m) and weigh up to 260 to 440 pounds (120 to 200 kg).

As for their appearance, young saltwater crocodiles are pale yellow in color with black stripes and spots on their bodies and tails. This coloration lasts for several years until the crocodiles mature into adults. The color as an adult is much darker greenish-drab, with a few lighter tan or grey areas sometimes apparent. Several color variations are known and some adults may retain fairly pale skin, whereas others may be so dark as to appear blackish. The ventral surface is white or yellow in color in saltwater crocodiles of all ages. Stripes are present on the lower sides of their bodies, but do not extend onto their bellies. Their tails are grey with dark bands.

Behavior and Lifestyle 

Saltwater crocodiles are slightly different than other crocodiles. Saltwater crocodiles and Nile water crocodiles are more dangerous and can easily consider human as their prey, as they have a long history of attacks on humans in the past. While most other crocodiles live in small social groups, saltwater crocodiles prefer to live alone except in the mating season. Also, they are much more aggressive and highly territorial as compared to other crocodiles. While they do allow female in their territory sometime (for mating purposes or interactions only) they strongly prohibit the entry of any other males in their area. This is true especially for the males as a male saltwater crocodile will not tolerate any other males at any time of the year.

Despite their relatively large body, saltwater crocodiles are agile predators and display surprising agility and speed when necessary, usually during strikes at prey. They can also swim at 15 to 18 mph (24 to 29 km/h) in short bursts, around three times as fast as the fastest human swimmers, but when cruising, they usually travel at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h).

As for their diet, their diet depends upon their size and age. They are very opportunistic feeders and prey on variety of animals. While the young adult saltwater crocodiles mostly feed on small or medium sized animals like bony fishes, group of birds, wild boars etc., while the older saltwater crocodiles feed on larger animals like zebras, buffalos, wildebeest and pronghorns. They also show cannibalism and sometimes feed on smaller saltwater crocodiles.

Biological Features 

Sexual dimorphism

Due to high sexual dimorphism, a noticeable difference can be seen between the male and female saltwater crocodiles.

Energy efficiency 

Like all other crocodiles ,the body of saltwater crocodiles are energy efficient. Without food and water, they can survive for 2 to 4 months without any problems. In case of extreme conditions where there is scarcity of resources, they can survive up to 3 years, thanks to there super efficient and energy saving body.

Filtration

As there name says, saltwater crocodiles live in saltwater and are perfectly adapted to intake salt water without any harmful effects or problems. This is all possible to their salt glands, which give them the ability to easily survive on salt water.

Reproduction

Female saltwater crocodiles reach the stage of sexual maturity at the age of 12 to 14 years while the male saltwater crocodiles reach it at the age of 16 years. Their mating season starts from the month of September to the month of October. This is because they mate during wet and moist months of the season. The female selects the nesting site, and both parents will defend the nesting territory, which is typically a stretch of shore along tidal rivers or freshwater areas, especially swamps. Nests are often in a surprisingly exposed location, often in mud with little to no vegetation around, and thus limited protection from the sun and wind. The nest is a mound of mud and vegetation, usually measuring 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) long and 1 feet 9 inches (53 cm) high, with an entrance averaging 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm) in diameter. Some nests in unlikely habitats have occurred, such as rocky rubble or in a damp low-grass field. 

The female usually lay 40 to 60 eggs, but can also lay from 80 to 90 eggs in some cases.  After the incubation period of around 80 days, the female lays her eggs during the months from November to March. Most of the crocodile eggs do not survive due to predators. The young saltwater crocodiles are very aggressive in nature and often fight each other as soon as they get themselves out of the eggs. The young saltwater crocodiles naturally start to disperse after around 8 months, and start to exhibit territorial behavior at around 2 to 3 years old.

FAQ

How much bite force they are capable to deliver ?

They are capable of unleashing a devastating bite force of 16458.42 Newton per square inch (3700 psi) which is over 12 times more than humans ( around 1300 Newton per square inch or 292.25 psi). It would be easier to lift a car of your legs than to open the jaws of saltwater crocodiles that has a grip on you. Also, their mouth open slowly but closes with a great force, which is enough to crush human bones easily. But hey, let's not forget about the nile water crocodiles which are, in most cases, are capable of delivering a greater bite force as compared to saltwater crocodiles and are considered to possess the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom, however the strongest bite force ever recorded comes from the salt water crocodile.

Does Saltwater Crocodiles perform "Death rolls"? or they are restricted to do such movements because of their massive size?

NOTE: Death roll is a movement in which the crocodiles rotate their whole body rapidly while grabbing the limbs of their prey in order to rip off their limbs from their bone joints to get pieces of flesh which they can easily eat. They use death rolls to dismantle and tear down larger animals. Remember, they are not large snakes like pythons and anacondas which swallow their whole prey in one go.

Like any other crocodile, they can also perform the death rolls despite of their massive size. Their big body does not restrict their movements specially in water where they are the most agile. In fact, saltwater crocodiles are more active than other species of crocodiles and can be often seen roaming around in water in free time.

What if they are brought in freshwater ?

Saltwater or freshwater, they can survive in both. They are not called as one of the oldest living creatures on the planet Earth for no reason.

Facts and Summary 

• Saltwater Crocodiles are large-sized hyper-carnivorous reptiles and are also considered to be the largest reptiles on Earth.

• Saltwater crocodiles are one of the 16 extant species of crocodiles. They are found in the coastal brackish mangrove swamps and river deltas from India's east coast, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Australia's north coast.

• Their average lifespan is around 70 years but they can also live over 100 years (In captivity or just by chance).

• They have one of the strongest bite force in the animal kingdom which is ever recorded (See FAQ).

• They can survive up to 3 years without eating as their bodies are highly energy efficient.

• They are more active, aggressive and more territorial as compared to other species of crocodiles.

• Despite of their size they are very agile predators. They can also swim at 15 to 18 mph (24 to 29 km/h) in short bursts, around three times as fast as the fastest human swimmers, but when cruising, they usually travel at 2 to 3 mph (3 to 5 km/h).

• The weight of a crocodile increases approximately cubically as length increases. In crocodiles, linear growth eventually decreases and they start getting bulkier at a certain point.

• While crocodilian brains are much smaller than those of mammals (as low as 0.05% of body weight in the saltwater crocodile), Saltwater crocodiles are capable of learning difficult tasks with very little conditioning, learning to track the migratory route of their prey as the seasons change, and may possess a deeper communication ability than currently accepted.

• The female saltwater crocodile exhibits a remarkable level of maternal care for a reptile. She excavates the nest in response to "yelping" calls from the hatchlings, and even gently rolls eggs in her mouth to assist hatching.

• The gender of developing hatchlings is dependent upon their incubation temperature. Warmer temperatures tend to produce males, while cooler temperatures produce females.

• Like most of the reptiles, they are also cold-blooded and are unable to generate their own body heat. That's why, like most of the crocodiles, they are often seen taking sun baths.

• They sweat through their mouths.

• They are also famous for their "death rolls" (See FAQ).

• They can sleep with their one eye open.

• They cannot eat or swallow food underwater.

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