Croc

Continuing with the crocodilian theme, here is a large (14'+) Saltwater croc (Crocodylus porosus). You are looking almost straight down at its head, the snout at the bottom. It was in a muddy lake on a croc farm in Pattaya, Thailand. The salties are capable of tremendous leaps out of the water to grab prey, so I was very careful to keep everything but the camera behind a fence.

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It looks like the Devil or something!

I know, the dude in Star Wars.

John

Here's another saltwater croc, this one quite a bit lighter in color. I have him compared to the first saltie I posted here. There is some natural variation in color from light to dark, and also it seems that raising a croc in clear, vs muddy water has a lot to do with their coloration. Both of these salties are from croc farms. The dark one on the right lives in a muddy lake, while the lighter one on the left lives in a pen with a clearwater pool. The breeder of these crocs may also be selecting for lighter pigment to enhance the value of the leather.
Saltwater crocodiles live in coastal areas from southern Asia to the south Pacific. While they tolerate saltwater well, they will live far upstream in freshwater rivers. The maximum known (verified) length is 20ft, but historical records suggest lengths of up to 30 ft. These days, very large adults range from 14 to 18 ft. They do prey on humans when the opportunity presents itself.

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Stunning images, living here in central Florida I have seen many American Alligators in the 14 foot range.
Here is one I imaged the other year out at the coast. Gatta love the smile, but just don't get to close.

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