Picture of Cahills Crossing croc munching on unidentified lunch raises eyebrows

A picture of a croc munching along the muddy banks of Cahills Crossing has sparked an online guessing game, with Territorians speculating as to what was on the menu. HAVE YOUR SAY.

Photographer Marcus Nyman captured the moment a saltwater crocodile took an mysterious and unlucky creature into the murky waters of Cahills Crossing.

A picture of a croc munching on an unidentified creature along the muddy banks of Cahills Crossing has sparked debate, with Territorians speculating as to what the massive saltie managed to snag.

In 2021, Perth photographer Marcus Nyman captured the moment a crocodile latched onto mangled, dead flesh, at the notorious crossing.

After stumbling across a photograph of the moment this week, Mr Nyman decided to upload the old picture.

Marcus Nyman caught the moment a croc snagged a creature along the muddy banks of Cahills Crossing. Picture: Marcus Nyman.

Immediately, speculation exploded as to what the unfortunate creature might have been.

“Too big for a file snake, looks like a large water python,” said one man.

“Looks like a pig with something?” said another.

Mr Nyman confessed that he was unsure as to what the prey might have been.

“Most people are saying it's a file snake, but others are also claiming it to be a python,” he said.

“It’s a bit hard to tell.”

Passionate photographer Marcus Nyman has captured plenty of Territory wildlife in action. Picture: Marcus Nyman.

Mr Nyman said he watched the croc for about an hour before capturing the feast.

“He was lying on something and I wasn’t sure what it was when suddenly he spun around, grabbed this snakelike thing and started chomping it,” he said.

“And he was just hammering this thing, smashing pieces.”

There was not much of an aftermath.

“You can see in the background the intestines laying there, he was pretty ferocious the way he snapped at it.”

Mr Nyman has witnessed - and captured - plenty of action across the Territory’s outdoors. Picture: Marcus Nyman.

Having photographed at sea and on land, Mr Nyman said he was particularly fearful of salties.

“I swim with sharks all the time, even been in the cages down in South Australia, but crocodiles scare the hell of me,” he said.

“They’re just so quick, so ferocious, they’ve got a brain and (they) track you.”

Spying on the Top End’s reptiles comes with eye contact. Picture: Marcus Nyman.

Fear is not enough to keep Mr Nyman away, however, with the keen photographer currently in the Top End, capturing nature in action.

“There’s always something happening at Corroboree Billabong or Cahills Crossing, also the various dams nearby,” he said.

“I do plan to do the Wet season because many Territorians do say that’s the best time of year for photography.”

Originally published as Picture of Cahills Crossing croc munching on unidentified lunch raises eyebrows