Johnston's Crocodile

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The Johnston's Crocodile has a long and slender snout, more than 3 times as long as broad at the level of the front corners of the eyes. The surface in smooth, without elevated ridges or unpaired elevations in front of the eyes. The colour of the upper body surface is greenish to brownish olive, closely speckled with black. The lower surface ia uniformly light, without dark blotches. The iris is greenish. It has a length of up to 3.2 m, but is usually about 2.6 m.

Did you know?
that, in Australia, these crocodiles are called "Freshies", which stands for freshwater crocodiles? This is because crocodiles of this species occupy various fresh water areas such as lagoons, rivers, billabongs, and swamps.

Factsheet
Class	REPTILIA
Order	CROCODYLIA
Suborder	EUSUCHIA
Family	CROCODYLIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Crocodylus johnsoni
Name (English)	Johnston's Crocodile
Name (French)	Crocodile de Johnston
Name (German)	Australien-Krokodil
Name (Spanish)	Cocodrilo de Johnston
CITES Status	Appendix II
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Benchill

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Northern Australia
Habitat	Freshwater areas
Wild population	Approx.: 50'000-100'000
Zoo population	112 reported to ISIS (2005)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 42 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Guillaume Blanchard

Why do zoos keep this animal

Due to its relatively small size (2,5 m) and its social behaviour C. johnsoni can be kept also in zoos with limited space and budget. It is a keystone-species for its unique habitat, the rivers and billabongs of the tropical parts of northern Australia and has therefore educational value. With its narrow snout it is also quite attractive and is on exhibit in several zoos, some of which have been breeding the species.

How this animal should be kept

The landpart of the enclosure should be structured e.g. by logs, the floor should be covered at least partly with sand, because the female digs a hole in the sand where to lay its eggs. Keeping in goups is possible. The surrounding fence or moat needs to be strong and have substantial foundations as crocodilians are very good at digging. In temperate or colder climatic zones keeping outdoors may, however, be possible at best during the summer period.

Mostly, the animals will have to be kept in indoor facilities where the following minimum standards should apply: For a pair of adults an enclosure with no less than 12 m² land and 15 m² water surface is required, for each additional adult both, land and water part, are to be enlarged by 3 m². Average water depth 80 cm. The landpart should be structured e.g. by logs. Floor temperature locally 35 ºC (floor heating), air temperature 24-30 ºC, water temperature 24-26 ºC. Humidity 60-80 %. Light phase 12-14 h per day, HQI lamps. Daily ultraviolet irradiation.