Incredibles images of a saltwater crocodile floating in water with its claws raised above the surface has left Australians baffled as to the reason behind the bizarre position.
The crocodile was seen with its front and back legs stretched out in the water along Buffalo Creek, in the Northern Territory, on Friday.
Its claws were splayed and raised above the surface as the reptile remained perfectly still, a technique experts say allows it to sense any small movement in water around them.
A saltwater crocodile has been captured floating in water with its claws raised above the surface
The crocodile was seen with its front and back legs stretched out in the water along Buffalo Creek, in the Northern Territory
It also drew plenty of speculation as to why the crocodile was resting in the bizarre position.
‘Yeah very common, just had its nails done,’ one person commented.
Another person wrote: ‘Pilates!’
Big Gecko crocodile specialist Adam Britton revealed crocodiles could sometimes be found resting in this position when they were hunting fish.
Special pressure points around their body, including on their hands, means they can detect the smallest movements in water around them – and then pounce on their prey.
‘Crocodiles have little pressure receptors on their body, the side of their jaws, front legs and hands,’ he said.
‘These can detect pressure changes in the water. So what they do is float on the surface and stretch their front and back legs out like that.
‘As the fish swim closer to the head, they can feel the pressure wave of the fish as it passes. When the crocodile feels that pressure wave it then snaps its head and eats the fish.’
Mr Britton said crocodiles typically used the posture when hunting large schools of fish.
Big Gecko crocodile specialist Adam Britton revealed crocodiles could sometimes be found resting in this odd position when hunting large schools of fish
The crocodiles spread their fingers out when hunting large schools of fish, as special receptors in their hands can detect movement in the water
