Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), the world's largest living reptiles, inhabit coastal areas of the Red Sea. Their range extends along the coasts of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia, particularly in mangroves, estuaries, and lagoons.
While not abundant in the open sea, they use marine corridors to move between river systems and coastal wetlands. The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) has also been reported in the southern Red Sea (Gulf of Suez, Sudan coast), though its primary habitat is freshwater.
Encounters are rare; these crocodiles are shy and mostly nocturnal. However, swimmers and fishers in mangrove areas should exercise caution. The Red Sea's warm, saline waters are within the saltwater crocodile's physiological tolerance, making it a marginal but viable part of their vast Indo-Pacific range.