A 17.9 feet long crocodile

November 8, 2024 6:57 AM

Investigation begins to learn exact age of dead crocodile, Cassius. A scientist hopes to learn more about the exact age of the iconic record-breaking 5.48-metre long (17.9 feet long) saltwater crocodile Cassius, believed to be up to 120 years old, after the croc died on 2 November 2024.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (17 comments total)

Boy, what an croc.
posted by y2karl at 7:32 AM on November 8 [3 favorites]

5.48-metre long

Excuse me? I think you must've mispoke. That's too long.
posted by Alex404 at 7:38 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

That’s a big lizard.
posted by Captaintripps at 7:58 AM on November 8

Crocodiles have been around for over 235 million years and have survived multiple catastrophic mass extinction events, including the great meteor that blew away the dinosaurs.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:17 AM on November 8 [2 favorites]

🐊
posted by HearHere at 8:33 AM on November 8

Crocodiles have been around for over 235 million years and have survived multiple catastrophic mass extinction events, including the great meteor that blew away the dinosaurs.

Cassius is a role model for these times. Except for the sticking your snout in an outboard motor propeller part. Or is that mainly rather than except?
posted by y2karl at 8:48 AM on November 8 [3 favorites]

I once read a fun and frisky short sf story about a crazed doctor (obvious crazy because reptiles, etc) who had the theory that crocodiles were sluggish due to a heart valve defect. Once he operated and somehow gave them a new heart or fixed it?, they started growing and sprouting wings. The one time I saw a very large crocodile in captivity, I wished that for them.
posted by winesong at 8:52 AM on November 8 [9 favorites]

Crocodiles have TWO aortas. One for normal breathing that involves the lungs, one for recirculating blood when they're submerged for up to 15 minutes at a time. Also their hearts slow way, way down while they're doing that, slowly floating closer... and closer... in the shallows.
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:25 AM on November 8 [4 favorites]

Crikey.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 9:30 AM on November 8 [1 favorite]

Aww, he died of a broken heart when he found out he wouldn't be able to eat his longtime caretaker
posted by klangklangston at 9:32 AM on November 8 [4 favorites]

I read that crocodile SF story too! Decades ago. Like, I don’t know if I was even in high school yet.
posted by notoriety public at 9:42 AM on November 8 [2 favorites]

I don't know where crocodiles go when they die, but R(ip) I(t to) P(ieces) Cassius.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 9:43 AM on November 8 [3 favorites]

(I looked the SF story up, it is “Day of the Dragon”, by Guy Endore, published in 1934.
posted by notoriety public at 10:04 AM on November 8 [4 favorites]

I read that story as a kid too! Never forgot it.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 11:01 AM on November 8

You're gonna need a bigger boat.
posted by thecincinnatikid at 11:59 AM on November 8

Except for the sticking your snout in an outboard motor propeller part

That's how it feels every time I read the news these days.

But seriously, big crocs like this make me feel that the dinosaurs never properly went extinct. (yes yes I know....let me have this simple and incorrect thought just this once). I once watched a similar huge croc at feeding time in a wildlife park and the jaws made a sound when they chomped around dinner that made my monkey brain Very Upset. Utterly primal.
posted by ninazer0 at 3:37 PM on November 8 [2 favorites]

I'm a scuba diver, and have seen a fair number of sharks. Saltwater crocs are TERRIFYING, and I hope to never, ever see one in the wild. RIP Cassius. You were a real one.
posted by cyndigo at 8:54 PM on November 13