Cassius, the world’s biggest captive crocodile, could be even bigger than we thought

A close up of Cassius the crocodile displays his massive snout, large teeth and green eyes. — Cassius could possibly be even larger than we thought. (Picture credit score: Marineland Melanesia Crocodile Habitat)

Cassius, the biggest dwelling crocodile in captivity, could possibly be even larger than beforehand thought.

The saltwater crocodile — who’s regarded as 120 years outdated — entered the report books in 2011, when he measured almost 18 ft (5.48 meters) lengthy. However his keepers have not measured him since, that means Cassius might have grown even larger since then.

“It’s extremely attainable Cassius might have grown larger since 2011, nevertheless now we have not tried to remeasure him,” Toody Scott, who takes care of Cassius at Marineland Crocodile Park in Australia, advised Guinness World Data. “We might try this within the close to future to supply some perception into progress charges of enormous crocodiles or in fact if his report was being challenged.”

Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) can develop as much as 23 ft (7 m) lengthy, with one other report holder — a 50-year-old, captive animal within the Philippines named Lolong — measuring greater than 20 ft (6.17 m). Lolong was captured in 2012 and briefly changed Cassius as record-holder, however the crocodile died one 12 months later after flipping over with a bloated abdomen and Cassius was reinstated because the world’s largest captive croc.

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Regardless of having seemingly lived greater than twice as lengthy, Cassius in all probability will not meet up with his predecessor. “As crocodiles get bigger than 5 m [16.4 feet], progress charges appear to sluggish to as little as 1 cm [0.4 inch a year] and in lots of situations the crocodile might cease rising,” Scott mentioned.

However Cassius may additionally be lacking a number of inches on account of accidents he sustained within the wild. When researchers captured him in 1984, the large croc had been combating different crocodiles over territory and attacking boat engines, leading to him shedding bits of his snout and tail. These lacking physique components weren’t factored into his 2011 measurements and will have added an additional 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) to his size, in keeping with Guinness World Data.

Based mostly on the scale of crocodiles which have lived within the Marineland park since start, Cassius’ keepers estimate the colossal croc was born in 1903. This 12 months due to this fact marks the saltwater large’s one hundred and twentieth birthday, and his keepers say Cassius might have “years to return.”

“Turning into a Guinness World Document holder definitely shot Cassius to ‘croc-stardom,'” Scott mentioned.

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