Crocodiles may be misunderstood and despised by most, but for many cultures they are revered and worshipped. Tribes along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea have a special relationship with crocodiles - a devotion to them reflected in carvings, paintings and "coming of age" ceremonies. The Crocodile Museum (continued) The crocodile carvings and masks come mainly from Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, but we have displays of crocodile "art" from all around the world, not to mention the largest collection of crocodile postage stamps to be found anywhere. Many cultures respect and understand crocodiles. One whole section of the museum is devoted to their fascinating biology, another to their darker side - attacks on people. Before we move outside, take a quick look at some crocodile biology. Remember - you can come back later and learn more. Glow in the dark crocodiles Crocodiles are active by day or night, but they are mainly nocturnal animals. Yet searching for them is not as difficult as you might imagine. They have a special crystal layer at the back of their eye called the "tapetum lucidum". This is reflective and if you shine a powerful light into their eyes at night you will see a strong reflection - just like a cat's eyes in the headlights of a car. Did you know...? The eye of a crocodile has an elliptical pupil like that of a cat. This means that the iris can be closed to a greater degree and more rapidly than a circular iris, helping to protect the sensitive retina from bright light by day. At night the pupil is fully open and rounded to maximise the amount of light entering. Galloping crocodiles? Most people see crocodiles as sluggish, lazy animals, barely capable of moving themselves from one place to another. But most crocodiles have the ability to move with lightning speed and agility when required. The most spectacular crocodilian gait is the gallop, which only a handful of crocodile species such as the Australian freshwater crocodile can do. It allows crocodiles to jump over rocks and logs when trying to get to the water in a hurry. Speeds have been measured up to 17 kph!