The estuarine, or saltwater, crocodile, is found in rivers and estuaries through out South East Pacific with a range stretching from East India to Fiji and southern China to north Australia.
Biologists have often been baffled by how the large predators, which can grow to be up to 18 feet in length, have managed to spread so far and occupy so many isolated islands despite being notoriously poor swimmers.
The reptiles typically move around in rivers using their claws to drag themselves along the river bed where they lie in wait to ambush prey that strays too close to the water's edge.
But anecdotal accounts have reported large crocodiles being sighted far out to sea.
Researchers have now for the first time discovered the true extent of the epic journeys made by saltwater crocodiles and uncovered how they manage to cover such large distances.
