Tailless crocodile rumble @ SBWR - 18July2020

'Tailless', a large crocodile frequently seen near the main bridge at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, had not been seen as regularly as it used to be. The incoming tide saw it entering the main river from the Johor Straits. As it crawled its way in the shallows, small groups of fish, likely mullet or milkfish, could be seen rippling the water surface swimming away from it. Earlier, there had been two smaller crocs about 3 metres long in the same waters but these had disappeared. Perhaps, they were male crocs and knew that Tailless was incoming. Tailless is after all a large male crocodile whose tail got stumped too many years ago likely in a fight with another capable croc. It's length is estimated to be about 2.5 metres from snout to stump. If it had a full tail, it might be about 4 metres long.

It headed below and past the main bridge much to the delight of the observing visitors and made its way to a small ditch nearby. There is usually a smaller crocodile about 3 metres long which uses that ditch and it had been seen earlier in the afternoon near the ditch but it was nowhere to be seen. My guess is that the smaller crocodile was a female and she was further up the ditch.

Tailless examined the ditch before turning out and backing his way in again. It then arched its back downwards raising its neck such that it angled the head down. Then it slammed the water surface with its head opening its jaw slightly before the water above its back exploded in vibration due to the low frequency murmur it was sending out claiming the area for itself and warning other male crocodiles that the area around the main bridge was his. There was too much noise from the visitors on the bridge to hear the murmur but I had seen and heard Tailless on another occasion about two years ago having performed the same territorial display. It repeated the vibration again before slowly making its way further upstream assisted by the incoming tide before crossing the river and following the bend to the right.

Find out more about crocodilian territorial and mating behaviour :

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160426-watch-a-huge-male-alligator-sing-to-attract-a-mate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCkTFEjo8qs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFeVAWrXrYs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAgRloUISEA