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Breeding season in saltwater crocodiles usually begins in late August in captivity and up to a month later in the wild. During this time, the crocs, male and female both, become very aggressive and territorial. Females are sexually mature once they reach 2.2-2.5 meters of length or 10-12 years old, while the males are mature at 3.2 meters at 16 years old. The females protect areas a kilometer in diameter and drive out other females trying to nest in their area. They also drive out unwanted males. Males normally defend a much larger area. Other male adults are rarely tolerated once they enter these territories. Though they are very dangerous and highly aggressive, the males will try to avoid fighting. They put on elaborate shows of intimidation. They use a combination of different visual, acoustic, chemical, and mechanical signals.This includes tail waving, jaw opening, geysering, head lifting, musk gland secretions, vocalizations, and infrasonic pulses which travel through the ground or water. The dominant male raises their whole body out of the water, whereas the submissive male will raise their head up and vocalize. Two dominant males that meet will try to out-intimidate each other, but if it doesn't work, they will fight. The males use their heads to slam down on each other. The head is mainly reinforced bone, and can do great damage to another croc. The teeth also rip through flesh, bones are shattered, and teeth go flying. After this fighting is over, the winner gets rights to the nearby area, while the loser swims away in defeat.

There is a lot of communication between the males and females before copulation. The male's approach to the female is surprisingly tender. The males will touch the female, rub up against her with his jaw, blow bubbles underneath the females bodies, rub their musky sent on the female, and rumble softly. If the female is not impressed, she will either dive under water or quickly swim away. If the female is willing, she will lift her head high out of the water and often vocalize. The male will then begin to circle the female, swim over to her, and push her body underwater. He manages to rotate her back legs and tail to one side so he can align his vent with hers. Male crocodiles do not have paired "hemipenes" like other reptiles, but one single copulatory organ. Once they insert their penis into the female, the process can take several minutes. The penis has a deep groove running along its length, down which semen travel to inseminate the female. The male may actually mate with the same female several times during the breeding season to ensure that he fertilizes her right after she ovulates. Males actually often try to make with other males, and females do the same with other females. Threesomes are not uncommon either

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14y ago

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