What is the largest crocodilian in the world?

The saltwater crocodile is the largest crocodilian in the world. Its scientific name is Crocodylus porosus, and it is also called the estuarine crocodile because it commonly lives in coastal wetlands, estuaries, and brackish water.

Large males can exceed 6 meters (20 feet) in length, although individuals of that size are rare. The species ranges from eastern India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to northern Australia and parts of the western Pacific. Its ability to tolerate saltwater helps it travel between islands and coastal habitats.

People often confuse the saltwater crocodile with the Nile crocodile, which is also enormous and dangerous but generally ranks behind it in maximum size. The American alligator is another common mix-up; it is a large crocodilian, but not the world’s largest. Females are substantially smaller than males, making size comparisons especially dependent on whether the question concerns the species overall or an average adult.