Can you spot the crocodile before it’s too late? It’s hard to spot a deadly predator… but there’s a clue

It was a beautiful day, you and your friends didn’t have a care in the world, you joked and played around by the river…

But beneath the soft mud lurks a vicious killer, its razor-sharp rows of pointed teeth inches from bare feet.

If there’s an alligator lurking near you, you want to know about it. But do you know the signs that will help you identify the deadly predator?

The photo of the deadly carnivore hidden in heavy mud was shared on the Australian Native Animals Facebook group as a reminder to be vigilant in crocodile territory.

“A reminder to handle crocodiles and keep your eyes off the mud,” Rodney Fischer captioned the photo of the barely recognizable form of an Australian saltwater crocodile covered in mud.

The only clue that the crocodile is covered in mud is an eerie peering golden-green eye, which many commenters on the report mistook for a small leaf or rock.

Saltwater crocodiles – or “salties” – are the largest living crocodile species in the world and can grow up to five meters in length, although specimens up to six meters in length are not uncommon.

Despite the “saltwater” designation, saltwater crocodiles in Australia are commonly found in estuaries and have been known to travel hundreds of kilometers inland and swim in freshwater.

The mottled colors and bumps on the species’ backs allow them to blend effortlessly into the colors of both murky and clear, shallow water.

However, they are virtually invisible in the mud that is usually created by the annual rainy season in naturally moist environments.

Thanks to the nostrils at the end of their snouts, they tend to stay just below the surface of the water, while their ears close underwater, allowing them to remain quietly in one position until prey comes their way.

Crocodiles and alligators seem to be among the masters of camouflage in the animal kingdom, as many other reptile species can camouflage themselves as well as the saltwater crocodile.

According to Crocodiles of the World, the black caiman is the largest member of the alligator family, with adult males averaging about 13 feet in length.

The species gets its name from its black skin color, which is used for camouflage when hunting at night and probably helps absorb more heat.

A crocodile camouflaged in water in Tangerang, Indonesia – the giant reptile hides under small leaves as it swims above the water with only its eyes and snout (Photo: Yensen Tan/Caters)

A terrifying photo taken by Australian hunter Scott Gorman showed how easily he could have been caught by a camouflaged crocodile in the long grass (Image: Warwick Milne)

According to the LA Times, scientists discovered in 2013 that alligators and crocodiles are not only fearsome and elusive, but also use incredibly cunning tactics to catch prey.

Scientists at the University of Tennessee have confirmed that the two reptile species use twigs to lure unsuspecting birds to their doom – by covering their snouts with sticks as they peer underwater.

This strategy would normally be used by the animals during the spring breeding season, when various species of birds will grab every little piece of wood they can get their beaks on and fight to build their nests.

In June 2021, terrifying footage posted on social media by an Australian hunter showed how he could easily have been caught by a camouflaged crocodile.

Refrigeration engineer Scott Gorman (32) was hunting pig with two friends in Weipa, North Queensland, when he almost stepped on one of the biggest predators.

The deadly reptile was so well hidden in the long grass that he only saw it at the last second.