 SALTWATER CROCODILE also known as Crocodylus Porosus (SCHNEIDER, 1801). Also known by other common names like in English: Saltwater Crocodile, Estuarine Crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile. Oriya: Baula kumbhira, Kuji Khumbhiora. Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi: Muggar. Bengali: Kuhmir. Kannada: Mossalay. Tamil: Muthalai. Telugu: Moseli. Malayalam: Muthala, Cheengkani. French: Crocodile marin; German: Leistenkrokodil; Spanish: Cocodrilo poroso Bahasa.
It is expected to be the world's largest reptile in the present time, having a length of about 20 ft (6.1 meter) and weight up to 1 metric ton. The average length of a male crocodile is about 13 to 14.5 feet and a female crocodile is about 10 to 11.5 ft. The color of a saltware crocodile may be black, dark brown or yellowish dorsally. The animal is large headed with heavy set of jaws. A pair of ridges from eyes orbits to the center of the jaws. A young crocodile have pale yellow color with black stripes and spots on the body and tail. In some regions a small number of animal even have much lighter color. The same color exists in the young ones since several years and day by day getting even paler and less colorful with not very clear bands which disappear by the time passes away. Adults are generally darker in color with lighter tan or gray areas. The abdomen and belly portion is generally creamy yellow to white in color leaving the tail which is gray on the underside also near the tip. They even have dark bands and stripes on the lower flanks which do not extend onto the belly portion. The estuarine crocodiles are restricted in India for its distribution to the tidal estuaries, marine swamps, coastal brackish water lakes and lower reaches of the larger rivers.
The vast geographical range of these saltwater crocodiles extend from Cochin on the west coast to Sunderbans in West Bengal and they even extend till Andaman Islands. As these crocodiles can travel long distance say even thousand km by sea so one can even see them at a distance from there usual ranges. Due to hunting and loss of habitat mainly of breeding sites these species are seriously endangered. In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands a survey has brought to the notice the precarious position of the animal. This animal no longer exist in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. A sanctuary has been established in the Bhitarkanika Island and other adjacent areas in Brahmani Baitarni river estuary in Orissa.
As the name suggests this animal has high tolerance of salinity and so it is found in salty water around coastal areas and in rivers. At times one can even find them in freshwater rivers and swamps.
A mature saltwater crocodile take a wide variety of prey where as the younger ones get restricted to smaller items like insects, amphibians, crustaceans, small reptiles and fish. As and when they grow up there diet also starts including greater variety and less frequently they take smaller items also. The prey which they have includes crustaceans and vertebrates like turtles, snakes, shore and wading birds, buffalo and domestic livestock, wild boar, monkeys.
Breeding of the territories are usually in freshwater areas. For a sexual maturity the male has to be around 16 years of age and females should have 10 to 12 years of age. On a mound nests made from plant matter and mud usually 40 to 60 eggs are laid which are constructed in the wet season in the months between November and March. To help preventing the losses due to flooding this works to raise the eggs above the ground. The female known to splash water onto it from a purpose-dug pool if there is a danger of getting too dry. After hatching of these eggs for about 90 days depending up on the temperature the young ones are born. The female brings them out from the nest when they start there different features chirping sounds. She assists them to water by carrying them in her mouth.
MARSH CROCODILE also names as Crocodylus Palustris (LESSON, 1831). other common names are English: Mugger, Marsh crocodile, Indian swamp crocodile. Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi: Muggar. Oriya: Kuji Khumbhiora. Bengali: Kuhmir, Kanada Mossalay. Tamil: Muthalai. Telugu: Moseli. Malayalam: Muthala, Cheengkani. French: Crocodile à front large; German: Sumpfkrokodil; Spanish: Cocodrilo marismeño.
 Comparatively strong reptile. A male adult has an average length of 10 feet (3 m) and an adult female has a length of 7.4 feet (2.25 m) but she can even reach a length of 10 feet. As per records maximum size recored till now is 18 feet (5.5 m) in Sri Lanka. In Madhya Pradesh a specimen was shot of 3.5 m in length which was approximately 200 kg. A specimen of length 3.5 m and girth 1.6 m was found and it was lifted by twelve men. These are found normally in India and possibilities of being in Indo-China Region. The color of this animal is generally gray, olive or brownish with dark markings which according to the age become less distinct. Younger ones generally have light tan color with black cross banding on body and tail.
They are normally found in fresh water sewage treatment ponds, rivers, swamps and lakes other large bodies of water in the plains and up to 600 m in the hills. They are slow-moving and shallow water bodied animals. At times they have even been seen in saltwater lagoons. In some parts of India they also live with gharials but they have separate habitat.
The also dig small hole or tunnel for shelter and migrate to long distance in search of suitable habitat. They have broadest jaw compared to any other Crocodylus genuus which gives them a more alligatorine look. It is difficult to differentiate between a Mugger and saltwater crocodile in the field but they do not occur together normally.
A young crocodile generally takes insects and small fish whereas an adult eats larger fish, amphibians, reptiles like snake and possibleu turtles, birds and mammals like monkey. Occasionally the adult crocodiles take deer and buffalo also.
For sexual maturity the female has to be 1.7 to 2.0 m in length and male should be around 2.6 m. During the dry season which is December to February they make the holes for nest. Location of the nest varies considerably but are commonly found on sloping banks. The female generally lays 25 to 30 eggs. Sometimes it has been observed of laying two clutches per year but then it is not in natural condition. After hatching the eggs for 55 to 75 days the young crocodiles are born which normally have a length of 30 cm. Females takes care of the nest and takes the little ones to the water in her mouth. The males also undertake this activity but in captivity.
GHARIAL - GAVIALIS GANGETICUS also known by other common names. English: Indian gharial, Indian gavial, long-snouted crocodile. Hindi: Gharial. Bengali: Mecho kumhir. Oriya: Thantia kumhira, male: Ghadiala, female: Thantiana. Bihari: Nakar, Bashsoolia nakar.
Length of this animal is normally 6.75 m but it is believed to attain a length up to 8 m. They are found normally in India in river Ganges, Brahmaputra and the Mahanadi with small population in Kaladan also. They are more adopted to aquatic lifestyle in the deep, fast moving and calmer rivers. The gharials are generally bad at moving on land they only leave water either for nesting or to expose themselves to pleasant warmth and in both the cases they occur on sandbanks only. Increasing of human beings using the river has restricted the gharials to a few remaining wild stretches of it former habitat. The color of an adult gharial is dark olive or brownish olive with white or yellowish white below. The younger ones are grayish brown with five irregular transverse bands on the body and nine on the tail.
It can be easily differentiated from other crocodiles as gharials have long and narrow jaws which ends with a tip which has the shape of a bulb. A male gharial has a large pot-like skeleton on the tip of snout and so the name is derived from this specification 'Ghara' which meas pot. According to the age the shape of snout varies.
 The diet is different for a youner and an adult ghariyal. The younger ghariyals normally have insects, frogs and other small vertebrates. Adults are mainly fish-eater for which their jaws and teeth are perfectly adapted the thin shape of their snout are low resistance in water which is helpful for lateral snatching movement under the water. Its teethe are suitable to hold slippery fishes.
At 10 years of age and a length of 3m the female ghariyal reaches to sexual maturity. One single male ghariyal guards house of several females. The mating time is for two months in a year during November and December and into January and then starts the nesting season which may occur from March, April and May which is the dry season and so the hole nests are dug into the sand banks. A female crocodile lays 30 to 50 eggs as a time and the size of a ghariyals eggs is largest than any other crocodilian species. The average weight of a ghariyals egg is 160 grams. The young ones are born after 83 to 94 days.
In 1976 a crocodile bank was set up with the intention of conserving the endangered reptiles like crocodile and alligators. This Crocodile bank is located 35 kms towards south from Chennai and it covers an area of 3.2 hectares. It is the pride to this bank that they are successful in achieving their goals by producing 6000 crocodiles. There is a Snake Farm also along with it to give a major source of anti venom. Here the visitors can see a large variety of African crocodiles and alligators. To give shade to the crocodiles who are resident of this crocodile bank a lush tropical vegetation has been provided. There also is a Crocodile Conservation Center which is an attraction in Chennai as it is the largest crocodile breeding site in India. Indian crocodiles are normally seen at this place like the Marsh or Mugger, Gharials and Saltwater crocodiles. The bank is also a scientific information source on the biology of crocodiles. A detailed study is done on crocodiles and other animals who are environmental partners and share common habitat like turtles and lizards.
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