How far can saltwater crocodiles travel?

Saltwater crocodiles enjoy catching a wave and can travel hundreds of kilometres by "surfing" on ocean currents, a study suggests. Australian researchers used sonar sensors and satellite transmitters to monitor 20 reptiles' movements. read more

Although these crocodiles spend most of their lives in saltwater, they cannot be considered marine reptiles the same way sea turtles are, because the crocs rely on land for food and water. There were already many anecdotal accounts of large crocodiles sighted far out at sea, but nothing confirmed. read more

Australian saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptile in the world in terms of mass (can be over 1000kg), and the largest crocodile with a confirmed measurement. Photo by"wouter!" The males can reach a length of up to 6 or 7 metres (2.5 to 3m for females), though such a size is rare. read more

The team -- which included the late Steve Irwin ("The Crocodile Hunter") -- also re-analyzed archival data from the few crocodiles that have been satellite tracked whilst undertaking ocean travel. By overlaying the crocodiles' movements with surface current estimates they found that ocean swimming crocodiles showed a similar behavioral strategy when at sea. read more