The marine crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus), also known as “Estuartino “, is the largest reptile in the world: it can reach i 6 meters in length and weigh up to a tonne, and studies that claim that the Australian specimens can arrive at two tons and overcome the 7 meters, reaching the 8 meters. Considered not at risk from the point of view of conservation, it is widespread throughout the South-East Asia and up toIndia on the one hand and toAustralia on the other; colonized a great number of islands in Southern peaceful. And it is not obvious, because the marine crocodile He cannot swim that the Australian specimens can reach the two tons and exceed 7 meters, reaching the 8. Considered not at risk from the point of view of conservation, it is widespread throughout Southeast Asia and up to India on one side and Australia on the other; He occupied a great number of islands in the southern Pacific. And it is not obvious, because the marine crocodile cannot swim.
“Don’t know how to swim” it’s obviously an exaggeration, but it is true that It is not a large swimmer, being more still and less elongated than other crocodiles. Yet it is capable of travel huge distances at sea: there are specimens for which we have recorded travel of 590 km in 25 days, and another marine crocodile of almost 5 meters traveled alone for 411 km in 20 days. There is therefore a contradiction: how does the marine crocodile do so much if it swims badly?
The answer is in surf, as suggested by This study: these reptiles are very good at Synchronize their travels with the tide. More or less An hour before the water starts to rise, place themselves on the wet and wait. Once the water goes up and the current begins to drag them, they exploit it for Cover distances that otherwise would not be able to travel.
Distances, records and energy costs
The numbers mentioned above are record, but Each journey of a marine crocodile on board the currents is remarkable: On average 50 km per day, along the rivers in which they swim until mouth, and sometimes up to Open sea. It is taking advantage of these currents that marine crocodiles, appeared in the Pacific 25 million years ago, they are widespread up to India and Australia, also colonizing the Islands encountered along the way.
Surf or not, that of the marine crocodile is never a pleasure of pleasure.
Abandon oneself to currents and be transported for hundreds of kilometers in the open sea is tiring, and the reptiles throughout the way They can neither eat nor drink. That’s why they learned to fully exploit the tides: when the water begins to withdraw, interrupt the movements for rest, waiting for the currents are favorable.
