Observations of mammalian feeding by Australian freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni) in the Kimberley region of Western Australia

Abstract

The dietary preference of most crocodilians is generally thought to be fairly broad. However, the head morphology of slender-snouted crocodilians limits their ability to process large and complex prey. The slender-snouted Australian freshwater crocodile is known to be a dietary specialist consuming small aquatic prey, particularly aquatic arthropods and fish. Here, we report observations of predation events by Australian freshwater crocodiles on medium- and large-sized mammals in the Kimberley region of Western Australia including macropods, a large rodent and an echidna. We discuss the significance of our observations from an ecological and morphological perspective and propose that terrestrial mammalian prey may be a seasonally important prey item for some populations of freshwater crocodiles.