 |
|
| vertebrates text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Reptilia |
| Estuarine
crocodile Crocodylus porosus Family Crocodylidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This awesome reptile is sometimes seen at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. According to Davison, it has been recorded in our estuaries and reservoirs including the Singapore River, Kallang River, Sungei Seletar and Kranji Reservoir, and Pulau Tekong. Also called the Saltwater crocodile, it is the most widely distributed of the crocodiles and found in tropical Asia and the Pacific. It lives in brackish and freshwater habitats. Features: Up to 8m long. A large triangular head with broad and long snout and bulbous eyes at the top of the head. There is a pair of ridges along the centre of the snout. It uses its long muscular tail to propel itself in the water. Younger crocodiles have oval scales that are pale yellow with black stripes and spots on the body and tail. The adults are much darker, with lighter tan or grey areas. What does it eat? Juveniles eat insects, frogs, crabs and fishes. Adults eat larger prey including fish, birds and mammals, hunting mainly at night. They may also scavange on carrion. Crocodile babies: A mother crocodile specially constructs a nest of vegetation in which about 80 eggs are laid. The warmth of the decomposing vegetation incubates the eggs. The mother fiercely guards the nest. Status and threats: Our Estuarine crocodiles are listed as 'Critically Endangered' in the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 10  Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sep 09 Photo shared by Teo Siyang on his blog. |
|
|
||
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 10  |
||
video clips of estuarine crocodiles on Singapore shores
| Crocodiles
recorded for Singapore from Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore.
|
|
Links
References
|
Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
Vertebrate Study Group, Nature Society (Singapore). 180 pp.
New Holland.|
|