It waits, submerge in water almost invisible, ready for an unwitting victim to pass, ready to devour, it is the saltwater crocodile the largest and strongest reptile in the world. At over 2200 lbs and up to 23 feet long, the size and power of this hunter is almost inconceivable, it weigh as much as a small car with jaws that can crush a human skull in a single bite, the saltwater crocodile’s ancestors began to roam the earth preying on species in water and on land 84 million years ago. Living in tropical areas throughout north eastern India, southeast Asia and northern Australia, crocodiles feast on water buffalo, leopards, sharks and occasionally humans even attacking small boats mistaking them as potential prey, whether in the water or on dry land, saltwater crocodiles hunt by surprise. They’re the masters of the ambush, since they can survive weeks at a time without food these reptiles take their time observing, watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack. They often float just under the surface of swamps, rivers and streams barely undetectible, evolution has precision their eyes and nostrils on the top of their head so their large body can be submerged, while their eyes work like a periscope to see approaching prey. Their palatal flap a rigid tissue at the back of their mouths keeps water from entering their lungs, these strong and stealthy animals are surprisingly intelligent, using a pattern of barks to communicate one another. And often mesmerizing the movement of migratory animal from year to year during the day, they move slowly, basking in the sun or floating in the water and waiting for nightfall to hunt. They have a reflective layer in the back of their eyes that acts like the lenses of night vision goggles, refracting light twice and allowing them to see intended victims clearly, even their scales help makes them extraordinary killers. Their scales hold sells which scientists believe that they act like motion sensors, they also feel the vibration of movement in water or on land, alerting it to approaching target. Once they scent prey, they exploded into action, rising out of the water then dragging their victim into the depths for the kill, in the jaws of saltwater crocodile, death is almost certain, its bite is the strongest of any animal on earth. More than 3,000 pounds of pressure per square inch, 10x stronger than a Rottweiler and stronger than a Great white shark, after a period of populations, these ancient warriors are now thriving thanks to aggressive conservations in Australia. Armed with stealthy hunting tactics and one of the strongest bite in the animal kingdom, saltwater crocodiles are ready, waiting and poise to attack for a few million more years.