How big are crocodiles in Australia? And what is the biggest crocodile?
The largest crocodiles in Australia are up to 5.5m long and weigh around 800kg. Most male saltwater crocodiles are between four and five metres long, however.
Crocodiles in Australia are big, and kill one to two people every year. It’s why you don’t go near the water’s edge in tropical Australia unless you’re absolutely certain no crocs are present.
Size of crocodiles in Australia
But just how big are crocodiles in Australia? Well, for a start, there are two types. The freshwater crocodile is smaller and much less dangerous. The saltwater crocodile – or estuarine crocodile – is the one you need to be extremely wary of.
The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the biggest reptile, and biggest crocodilian, on earth. Adult male saltwater crocodiles generally grow to between 3.5m and 6m long, with most in the 4m to 5m zone. These male salties weigh between around 410 and 520kg. They can swim at speeds of up to 29km/h, too.
Female saltwater crocodiles are smaller in size – around the three metre mark.
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Biggest crocodile ever
The biggest saltwater crocodile ever measured was Lolong. This monster croc was captured in the Philippines, weighing 1,075kg and measuring 6.17m.
There are several Australian crocodiles that have come reasonably close to this. The notorious Sweetheart, who kept attacking fishing boats, was 5.1m long. His taxidermied body is now on display at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin.
It is also possible to swim with several enormous crocodiles at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin (book here). The Cage of Death sees visitors lowered into crocodile enclosures in a see-through acrylic box. The largest crocodile at Crocosaurus Cove is Wendell, who measures a highly disputable 5.5m long and weighs around 800kg.
Cassius – the biggest crocodile in Australia
The biggest crocodile in Australia – or at least the biggest in captivity – is Cassius. He’s in captivity on Green Island, near Cairns in Queensland. Cassius is on display at the Marineland Melanesia croc park.
Cassius is recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest crocodile in captivity at 5.48m long.
There may be larger crocodiles in the wild, though. The Adelaide River in the Top End of the Northern Territory has two contenders – Brutus and Dominator. Both are thought to be over six metres long, but neither has ever been caught or measured. So they can’t officially take the title of Biggest Crocodile in Australia.
The Adelaide River is, however, one of several spots in Australia where you can take a crocodile cruise.
Krys the Crocodile in Normanton
But what about Krys the Crocodile, who is immortalised in a life-sized statue in Normanton, Queensland? Krys was captured in the Norman River between Normanton and Karumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Legend has it that Krys the Crocodile in Normanton was 8.64m long, although there is no evidence for this, and no photos remain. Experts also believe this is way outside the feasible size range for a saltwater crocodile. They might get up to seven metres, but not more than 8.5m. It’s probably fair to write the Krys the Crocodile story down as a bit of boisterous exaggeration.
Oddly, a stretch of river with a big croc in it is arguably safer than one with a medium-sized croc in it. With a five metre big beast, it has a larger territory, meaning other crocs don’t come near. Take the five metre croc out, and several four metre crocs are likely to move in, attempting to carve out their own territory. If you can see the big one, there probably isn’t another. If you can see a medium-sized one, there are probably others you can’t see.
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