Within Australia, there are two species of (true) crocodiles: the saltwater (or estuarine crocodile) and the endemic Australian freshwater crocodile. Saltwater crocodiles are found in both tidal and freshwater areas.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Australian saltwater crocodile is over 400,000 mature individuals.
Habitat. Saltwater crocs, or "salties," as Australians affectionately refer to them, have an enormous range, populating the brackish and freshwater regions of eastern India, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. They are excellent swimmers and have often been spotted far out at sea.
As you may have guessed by their name, the saltwater crocodile can live in saltwater, brackish or even freshwater habitats. Saltwater crocodiles are well-suited for saltwater and brackish environments thanks to their lingual salt glands.
Croc Country (considered to be typical crocodile habitat) begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone, and extends northward, up the east coast and across far north and north west Queensland to the Northern Territory border. Crocodiles can sometimes also be found outside of croc country.
In Queensland the Salt-water Crocodile inhabits reef, coastal and inland waterways from Gladstone on the east coast, throughout the Cape York Peninsula and west to the Queensland-Northern Territory border.
"World's Most Aggressive Crocodiles"
In December 2013, a study conducted by researchers at Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory found that the saltie was much more aggressive than six other species of crocodiles from around the world.
What is this? Crocodiles have been known to be as far south as the Mary River in Gympie. This is only about 167km from Brisbane and only 52km from the Great Sandy National Park. More astonishingly, this is a whopping 449km away from the northern points of Queensland where they are typically found.
Interesting facts about crocodiles
The Mary River in the Northern Territory has 15 crocodiles per km, making it the most densely populated river! The temperature of the egg determines the sex of the animal.
More crocodiles in the NT
There is estimated to be around 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the wild in the NT. There are more saltwater crocodiles in the NT than Queensland and Western Australia (WA).
The saltwater crocodile population in Australia is estimated at 100,000 to 200,000 adults. Its range extends from Broome, Western Australia through the entire Northern Territory coast all the way south to Rockhampton, Queensland.
"Around the world, there are about 23 species … of crocodylians," Groh told Live Science. "Of these, the salties in Australia are the largest that exist in the world — only the Nile crocodile in Africa and the American alligator come close."
The largest reptiles on the planet, saltwater crocodiles not only live in northern Australia but have made their way to the South Pacific. As a result, their entire range also includes Fiji, China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, the Sunda Islands, and Vanuatu.
How come saltwater crocodiles don't inhabit the salty reef, you ask? It's a good question – but the Great Barrier Reef's clear water, lack of crocodile-friendly food sources and large swimming distances from the mainland make seeing a crocodile on the outer reef (aka where the reef tours go) extremely unlikely.
Let's be real. Tropical Far North Queensland is chock-full of crocs, including Cairns. Both species native to Australia inhabit the freshwater streams and brackish creeks of Cairns: the saltwater crocodile and its freshwater cousin, the—you guessed it—freshwater crocodile.
Tarcoles River - highest populations of crocodiles in world - 25 crocs per square kilometer - Picture of Jose's Crocodile River Tour, Tarcoles - Tripadvisor.
The biggest croc ever found, at 8.6m (28ft). Shot by a hunter in Queensland, Australia in 1957. Wendy Richards dan 5,460 yang lain menyukai ini.
Central Africa has the largest population of Nile crocodiles. The southeast Asian island of Borneo also has a large population of estuarine crocodiles. 4. The species range of the alligator is almost entirely limited to the New World.
Size, defenses, and offensive capabilities will matter most in a fight between an unarmed human and a crocodile. On land, humans can outrun crocodiles, but in the water, crocodiles are considerably swifter.
Try to gauge, kick or poke the eyes of the animal, and there is an excellent chance that the crocodile may release you from its hold. The croc may fight you back and try not to let you go. So, you must keep repeating your attack on its eyes until it lets you go.
Killer whales have speed and size on their side. Even though saltwater crocodiles are large and armored, they're not strong enough to fight off a killer whale. If orcas can kill great white sharks, they can kill saltwater crocodiles.
So when answering this particular question of how far do they swim out into the ocean, consider how far out they are being carried by the currents. It is estimated that they can be carried out approximately (on average) about 48km (or 30 miles).
Unlike our neighbour, Australia, New Zealand isn't known for its deadly creatures. You won't find any crocodiles or poisonous land snakes here…
Crocodiles are a tropical creature. They are common in Australia, but are not found in cooler Tasmania.