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scientist in Australia may soon learn on the dot how erstwhile the jumbo crocodile Cassius was when he died after execute a autopsy on the disc - breaking predator .
Cassius , who wasthe world ’s largest living confined crocodile , died in Australia this month after 40 years in captivity . Experts estimated the gigantic saltwater croc ( Crocodylus porosus)could have been over 120 years old — but they do n’t know for sure .
Cassius, who was the world’s biggest captive crocodile until his death early November.
Sally Isberg , founder of the Centre for Crocodile Research in Australia ’s Northern Territory , told ABC Newsthat " all indications at this stage indicate that he has died of [ old years ] . "
But further examination come the animal autopsy , which will be carried out imminently , may also disclose the 17 groundwork and 11.75 column inch ( 5.5 meter ) croc ’s exact historic period , something that even his keepers — who made up his birthday — had never been sure of .
When Cassius was capture in the Finniss River , near Darwin , in 1984 , researchers believed he may have been up to 80 years old . But once crocodile in full fledged , their growth rates slow down , making it impossible to set his exact eld .
Cassius living in captivity for 40 years, and may have been 80 when he was first captured.
" There is no way of have it off Cassius ' actual age as he was born in the natural state and the years is just an idea , " Toody Scott , one of Cassius ' keeper at Marineland Crocodile Park , previouslytold Live Science .
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The only way to get hold out the creature ’s eld involves cutting into its bones to count the growth ring , which can only be done after death . Scientists plan to cut into Cassius ' back and veracious femur bone to take samples that will be beam aside for testing .
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" My architectural plan is to send it to a science lab that can cross - section it and count for growth rings , just like in tree , " Isberg told ABC News . However , it could take months before the upshot are back and the process is n’t guaranteed to work , she added . " I ’m a small chip implicated that those growth hoop might not be quite as easily discernible . "
Grahame Webb , a animal scientist and leading crocodile researcher , avail captivate Cassius from the wild in 1984 after the aggressive croc started attacking cattle and boat propellers . He told ABC News that counting development rings might not give an precise age idea . " These brute break turn and they can live for decades afterwards without growing , " he tell .
Gaius Cassius Longinus measure just under 18 foot ( 5.5 megabyte ) long when he pall . However , he was also miss part of his snoot and the end of his tail end . Without these battle cicatrix , Webb believe the crocodile would have reached a total length of 19 foot ( 5.8 metre ) .
