Saltwater Crocodiles are one of the predators on top of the food chain. Being carnivorous in nature, they eat every animal that enters its territory. Juveniles of this crocodile eats fishes, squid, insects and other small reptiles. The full growns nearly eats anything that has meat; they include sharks, boars, deer, domestic livestocks on their diet, and including humans. They use their strong jaws to get hold of their prey and a rolling technique to drag it on water to drown or crush it. The Males of this crocodile are extremely territorial and often compete with each other to occupy a comfortable place to dwell.
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| Saltwater Crocodile Mariano touched by a zoo visitor. |
Scientifically called Crocodylus Porosus, the Saltwater crocodile found its habitat on tropical wetlands, which includes marshes and swamps between rivers and seas. It is historically found in Asia and some parts of Australia. Though extinct already in some parts of Southeast Asia like Vietnam, Thailand and Laos; Hundreds of thousands of full grown adults can be still found on Northern Australian territories.
These breed of crocodiles are considered to be one of the largest living reptiles to ever live today. Incredibly, some subspecies of male of this reptile can reach up to 30 feet in length and can weight more than a ton. These reptiles have something in common from human beings. They sexually mature at the age of 16 same as the adolescent stage of humans.
In contrast with the description of this crocodile specie, Cebu Zoo has one of the most friendliest Saltwater Crocodile named Mariano. Mariano is already 60 years old and is still very healthy. He often makes funny noises when being touched.
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| Mariano the Cebu Zoo Crocodile |
