AnimalsThe saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile. It lives in river mouths and mangrove swamps and can swim far out to sea. In India it is found in Bhitarkanika, the Sundarbans and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Crocodylus porosus
- Group
- Reptiles
- Diet
- Carnivore (eats other animals)
- Lives in
- South-East Asia, northern Australia and eastern India
- Habitat
- River mouths, mangroves and coasts
- A young one is called
- hatchling
- A group is called
- bask or float
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Reptilia
- Order Crocodylia
- Family Crocodylidae
- Genus Crocodylus
- Species Crocodylus porosus
Other members of the family Crocodylidae on this site: mugger crocodile.
More distant relatives in the order Crocodylia: gharial.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The saltwater crocodile is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.