Surprise! 🎉
The 12 Days of Christmas may be over, but, we realised we missed a big one: Darwin!! So…
🎶On the thirteenth day of Christmas,
Norther brought me
a Saltwater Crocodile!🐊
And a melting pot of cultures and good vibes from Darwin!
Saltwater Crocodile (Saltie) in Darwin
COMMON NAME: Saltwater Crocodile
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Crocodylus porosus
TYPE: Reptile
DIET: Carnivore
SIZE: 6-7 m and weigh over 1,000kg
Did you know that the Saltwater Crocodile is the largest reptile on the planet? ON THEEEE PLANET!
The male Saltwater Crocodiles have been recorded to be as long as 7 m and are estimated to have weighed a staggering 1500-2000kg. (Crickey!) The females are much smaller, growing to be about only 3 m and weighing about 150 kg. The heads are quite large and feature a pair of ridges that run from the eyes along the centre of the snout. Their scales are oval and the scutes (bony plates) are small compared to other species. The young Saltwater Crocodiles are pale yellow in colour with black stripes and spots on the body and tail.
The adult is much darker in colour, with lighter tan or grey areas. The ventral surface is white or yellow in colour, and stripes are present on the lower sides of the body but do not extend to the belly. The saltwater crocodile has a heavy set jaw with between 64-68 teeth. Saltwater crocodiles have a valve at the bottom of the mouth that seals off from their throat, enabling them to open their mouths underwater.
Where does the Saltwater Crocodile Live?
Short Answer: The Top End!😂
There are estimated to be over 100,000 saltwater crocodiles in the NT at the moment however salties can be found in other parts of the world too. They can be found in Eastern India and Southeast Asia. As their famous name suggests, saltwater crocodiles are able to live in saltwater, but they are also found in freshwater rivers as well.
Saltwater crocodiles use thermoregulation to maintain body temperatures. They cool themselves in water and warm themselves in the sun.
The saltwater crocodile is a mostly aquatic animal that spends minimal time on dry land to warm in the sun. They are excellent swimmers and can be spotted hundreds of kilometres out at sea!
What does the Saltwater Crocodile Eat?
The Saltwater Crocodile is a patient and opportunistic predator. The size of the croc and its strength determine its prey as they feed on anything they can get their powerful jaws on. They use the power of their tail to be able to tackle big prey.
They can even feed on sharks! Their usual prey is mostly fish, turtles, goannas, snakes, birds, buffalo, wild boar and mud crabs. They like to grasp their prey and drag it back in, holding it under until the animal drowns. They also do their famous death roll which is when they roll rapidly in the water in order to remove the limbs of their prey. This is mostly because their teeth are meant for gripping and not ripping.
When do Saltwater Crocodiles Breed?
From the age of 10-12 years, the females start breeding and males start at 16 years. The females lay between 40-60 eggs and bury them in nests of vegetation and mud which are elevated to avoid loss from flooding during the rainy season. They protect their nests until the eggs hatch after 90 days and they carry their young to the water to ensure their survival. However, only 1% of the hatchlings are thought to survive to maturity in the wild.
Fun Saltie Facts:
- Large Salties have been known to hold their breath underwater for an hour!
- Their barks are a way of communicating with one another. Cool!
- They can sleep with one eye open!! – and scientists have now proved it to be true.
- They are unihemispheric sleepers. (This means they can shut down only one half of their brain at a time, keeping the other half alert to danger.)
Impressive predators! It’s time to colour them in! Share this with your friends and see who can do the most creative design. Wanna feature your creation on our Instagram? Email us [email protected] and we’ll share the most creative creation on our Instagram page!
Yours in adventure,
Have a Merry Norther Christmas
Download The Saltwater Crocodile Colouring Page
Sunsets, epic adventures, mouthwatering food and a melting pot of cultures. This is what you can expect when you visit Darwin.
Darwin
Darwin is the capital of the Top End and it is where all roads lead! The city is simply phenomenal. Whatever you need you will find it here and all year round too!
The Larrakia First Nations People are the Traditional Owners of the land. This is evident in the First Nation art that adorns the city’s galleries, museums and streetscapes. This multicultural city also has influences from other cultures, especially Asian cultures.
Being in the Top End, the city enjoys the tropical climate making it easier for you to enjoy all year round. Darwin’s wet season sees temperature and humidity increase. Darwin’s wet season typically arrives in late November to early December and brings with it heavy monsoonal downpours, spectacular lightning displays, and increased cyclone activity. During the dry season, the city has clear skies and mild sea breezes from the harbour.
Darwin is a nature lovers’ paradise! It is close to Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park and Katherine Gorge (Nitmiluk National Park). Come and explore the best kept secret in Australia.
Things to do in Darwin?
Darwin is the perfect base for day trips to Litchfield National Park, Berry Springs, Adelaide River, Mary River, Lake Bennett and the Tiwi Islands. Popular activities are fishing trips, harbour cruises, scenic flights, cultural experiences, historical tours, walking tracks, and swimming.
The list is endless and here are our recommendations for must-do excursions in Darwin:
It’s a croc’s world and we are living in it:
These are hair-raising experiences for the adrenaline junky! Game enough to swim with salties and see what they are capable of close up? These encounters are for you:
- Crocosaurus Cove Entry
- Croc N History Explorer
- Big Croc Feed VIP Experience
- Cage of Death – 2 people
- Croc N History
- Croc Explorer
- Cage of Death – 1 person
Accommodation:
Click on the map below to see the accommodations that we recommend when visiting Darwin!
Food food and more FOOD!
Darwin has the best food around! Inspired by its cultural diversity this is the place for foodies.
Foodie tours to enjoy in Darwin:
- 3.5-Hour Gourmet Dinner & Art Tour +
- 3.5-Hour Weekday or Saturday Gourmet Lunch & Art Tour +
- Crab Claw Island for Lunch
Fishing tours:
Want to try your hand at fishing?
Go and enjoy a few hours of:
Epic Encounters:
Filled with epic experiences there are a few tours we recommend for some fun in Darwin.
- Claw Island – 45 Minute Scenic
- Crab Claw Island – 30 Minute Scenic
- Dundee Beach 30 Minute Scenic
- Whipray Encounter
Sail away with the wind and enjoy the sunset:
Nothing like enjoying a beautiful sunset and catching up with your mates. It is impossible to be unhappy when you are in the sea. We know that there is nothing more beautiful, more serene, more mesmerising, than a magnificent cruise on the Darwin Harbour.
Helicopter tours:
Sometimes you need to just see it from above.
Darwin has beautiful scenic views that will have you wanting to take another lap around. Climb aboard a private helicopter for an unforgettable flight over Darwin.
- Darwin’s Big Day Out
- Above and Beyond
- Sunset Getaway
- Darwin Cyclone 30
- Darwin Cyclone 20
- Darwin Cyclone 10
- Heli Pub Crawl – Half Day Options 1 & 2
- Heli Pub Crawl – Half Day Options 3 & 4
- Heli Pub Crawl – Full Day
- Lake Bennett Option 1
- Lake Bennett Option 2
- Lake Bennett Option 3
- Lake Bennett Option 4
- Lake Bennett Option 5
Darwin is filled with epic experiences that the whole family can enjoy. We hope you have an amazing time visiting Darwin.We would love your feedback on this page – please comment below if you’ve been to Darwin or seen a Saltie.
Norther® would like to invite you to explore more about the beauty of Darwin here. And… as always you can get more inspiration for other Destinations & National Parks & to visit by following @northerhq or get your Darwin daily fix @darwinweloveyou.
