also: うみワニ
saltwater crocodile; estuarine crocodile
Refers specifically to Crocodylus porosus, the largest living reptile. Rare term; more commonly called イリエワニ (入江鰐) in Japanese.
See also: イリエワニ
ウミワニは世界最大の爬虫類の一つです。
The saltwater crocodile is one of the largest reptiles in the world.
オーストラリア北部にはウミワニが生息している。
Saltwater crocodiles inhabit northern Australia.
Katakana spelling is common for animal names and is the usual written form for this word.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling; less common but still encountered.
Kanji spelling using 鰐 (crocodile); rare and may not be widely recognized.
Compound of 海 (umi, 'sea') and 鰐 (wani, 'crocodile'). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose as a descriptive name for the saltwater crocodile's habitat.