Freshwater crocodiles
The freshwater crocodile (also called Johnstone’s Crocodile) is found in inland freshwater areas of the Australian tropics and occasionally in the tidal portions of rivers. They are only found in Australia. Their range does overlap with saltwater crocodiles, and they can be found in the same locality.
Male freshwater crocodiles grow up to 3 meters in length, although females are much smaller, rarely growing longer than 2 meters. Both species mature at around 15 years of age.
The diet of freshwater crocodiles includes all the smaller animals you find near in and rivers; insects, fish, frogs, turtles, waterbirds and snakes are the most common diet items. Small mammals that come to drink at rivers are also sometimes taken. Even the larger adults feed mainly on these smaller prey.
One item not on freshwater crocodile diet list is people. According to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service they are “…usually inoffensive, but will bit if provoked.” “…there is no record of an unprovoked attack on any person by a freshwater crocodile.” We have had old timers tell us of having swum with freshwater crocs back at the bush swimming hole when they were kids, but we would urge you use caution, even if you think you can tell which species is which.
“Freshies” breed during the tropical dry season, during the months of July and August. Females will dig a hole in a sandy riverbank, and lay up to a dozen eggs. The eggs will hatch in two to three months. The timing of hatching is near the start of the wet season when food for the young (mostly insects) is particularly abundant. The gender of the young is determined by the incubation temperature, extremely high or low incubation temperature produce females, mid-range temperatures produce males.
Freshwater crocodile range
