Fresh water crocodiles

What's the diff?

Fresh vs Salty
1) Freshwater crocodiles have a narrower snout
2) Freshwater crocodiles are smaller than the "Salty's"
3) Freshwater crocodiles can only live in fresh or slightly salty water, whilst the saltwater crocodile can survive in both types of water.
4) 'Saltys' (Saltwater crocs) lay eggs in nests of vegetation whilst freshwater crocs lay their eggs in a hole in the sand.
5) Freshwater crocs teeth are shaped more like needles for piercing fish, Saltwater crocs teeth are used for gripping.
6) Freshwater Crocs reproduce in the DRY season while Saltwater Crocs reproduce in the WET season.

The freshwater croc will not usually attack humans unless cornered or caught. The freshwater crocs have a narrower skinny snout with sharp needle-like teeth. (If you are this close to the croc to see its teeth then you want to hope its a Freshwater croc).

Freshwater crocs have 68-72 teeth total consisting of 5 premolar teeth, 14-16 molars, and 15 lower jaw teeth.

Photographed at Perth Zoo

What do they eat?

Freshwater croc's eats fish, insects, small invertebrates, amphibians, mammals, birds, and other small vertebrates. They don't waste energy chasing down their prey but rather wait until it comes close enough to grab.

Crocodiles have to have their head above water to swallow their food otherwise water would get into their lungs while swallowing. Croc's can put their head under water and even open their mouths if they aren't eating, and not get water into their lungs as they have a flap at the back of their throat that stops water from going down.

Photographed at Perth Zoo

They are approx 1.5-2m in length and usually live in fresh water but can also live in partial salty water. They usually aren't found where the Estuarine/Saltwater crocodiles live, being more in tidal waterways.

Crocodiles can see well in the murky water.

Three weeks after mating approx 13-20 eggs are laid in a sandy hole between August and September. This is usually done at night.

The nests are left unguarded but the mother croc returns in late October where she carefully carries her young to the water. As they are all nesting at the same time it may be another female croc, maybe not the mother, that helps to dig up the babies and take them to the water in her mouth. The hatchlings of different clutches may stay together with a female adult although they are self feeding.

Freshwater croc's become mature when they reach around 1.5metres in length.

Text;
"Australian Reptiles and Frogs" by Herald Ehnann and Micheal Tyler
www.animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/crocodylus/c._johnsoni$narrative.html