Sub-adults disperse into different habitats, away from breeding areas, when they reach a length of approximately 1.2 m. Appendix I, except 1. Generally, it is a large crocodilian, averaging 5 m in length but reportedly reaching 6 m in rare instances. There are dubious reports of 7 m animals having existed, but these are hard to verify. Due to suboptimal conditions, adults average between 2 and 3 metres.
Juveniles are dark olive brown with black cross-banding on the tail and body.
This banding becomes fainter in adults. Adults, however, can potentially take a wide range of large vertebrates, including antelope, buffalo, young hippos, and large cats. Fish and smaller vertebrates often form the greatest part of their diet, however. As with C. porosus , they have a reputation as being man-eaters, although probably kill more people than all other crocodilian species combined. Along with hippos and lions, crocodiles account for perhaps a few hundred deaths and disappearances each year, although exact figures are very hard to verify.