mugger crocodile

Description:

"On average, male Mugger crocodiles attain a length of 10 feet (3 metres) while the average female is 7.4 feet (2.45 metres). Occasional specimens can however become considerably larger and some old males are 13-18 feet (4-4.5 meters) long and weigh over 1000 lbs (450 kg). Juvenile Mugger crocodiles are usually light tan to pale olive with black cross-banding and spotting on body and tail. As the crocodile grows older it loses most of its banding and the body darkens and become grey, brown and/or blackish olive. The Mugger crocodile has the broadest snout of all the members of its genus, an anatomical feature that gives its head an alligator like appearance. The head is rough without any ridges and the jaw contains 19 upper teeth on each side. The limbs are protected by keeled scales and a serrated fringe can be seen on the outer edge of each leg. The fingers of the Mugger crocodile are webbed at the base only while the outer toes feature extensive webbing" (aquaticcommunity.com, 2009).

Habitat:

"Large rivers, marshes, reservoirs and tanks in the low country dry zone" (Somaweera, 2011). http://www.srilankanreptiles.com/Tetrapo...

Notes:

This was as close as I could get to a this giant mugger resting on the edge of a "tank" in Yala National Park.