Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodile
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Nightmares of Nature
Previous	Komodo Dragon
Next	Reticulated Python
Card	5
Creature Features
Species	Crocodylus porosus
Size	Length up to 23 ft.; Weight up to 2,200 lbs.
Habitat	Streams and coastal waters from India to northern Australia
Prey	Fish, birds, pigs, deer, buffalo, monkeys, and people
Lifespan	Up to 100 years
Did You Know?
A crocodile often swallows stones to grind up food in its stomach.

Lurking in muddy waters, the saltwater crocodile bursts from its hiding place to ambush passing prey, even animals as big as a water buffalo. The low-slung, leathery monster is now the largest living reptile in the world.

Good Point: Each tooth is like a sharp spike and is replaced by a new tooth as it wears out, so the crocodile never loses its teeth as it gets older. This is one reason why it can live so long.

Great Tail: Using powerful sweeps of its long tail, the crocodile can move at blinding speed and burst from the surface like a missile. The tail also helps the animal steer.

Rip and Rot

Animals that come near the water are potential snacks.

Patrolling a shoreline or lying in wait, the saltwater crocodile springs into action to grab a meal. It rips victims apart, often tossing chunks of flesh into the air before gobbling them down. These huge crocs often “tenderize” their prey by stashing it for several days under submerged logs or boulders and letting it rot underwater.

Tastes Like Chicken: The saltwater croc has probably eaten more people than any other wild animal. Estimates are it devours more than 1,000 humans each year.

Old Salty: Special glands on the crocodile’s tongue get rid of excess salt in the body, so the animal can spend long periods in salty seawater.

Chow Time

1. A water buffalo visits a cool river in rural Malaysia to quench its thirst. It neither sees nor hears the crocodile, low in the water, until it strikes.
2. The croc’s jaws hold the helpless mammal in a vice-like grip and, with a single flip of its broad tail, the croc drags the mammal’s head below the water to drown it.
3. The crocodile cannot chew, so it reduces the size of each bite by violently shaking the carcass to tear off pieces.

Trading Card

Saltwater Crocodile This creature looks like a throwback to the dinosaur age because it has lived on Earth for millions of years. Pointed teeth and clamping jaws spell doom for its victims. Say What? Saltwater crocs killed more than 500 Japanese soldiers in Burma in 1945. Stats Life 140 Attack 8 Defense 7

Saltwater Crocodile Diamond Power The world’s largest living reptile, the saltwater croc is also one of the top killers on Earth. This monster strikes in a flash to crush its victims. Say What? This croc can smack prey with its tail, like a whip. Powers +1 Attack against Nightmares of Nature. Stats Life 120 Attack 10 Defense 10

Trivia

• The headshot image of the crocodile is also used in the croc's Wildlife Explorer card.
• The saltwater crocodile is listed as part of the anatomy of the Bunyip (the tail).
• The saltwater crocodile is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
  • It is one of the example animals used for Create-A-Monster on Monster Mania 5.
  • It is later featured in Where In The World? on Monster Mania 14.
  • The crocodile's trading card is featured on Battle of the Monsters Variations 69 on Monster Mania 69.