eggs are laid in holes during the australian dry season (usually in august) and hatch at the beginning of the wet season (november/december). the crocodiles do not defend their nests during incubation. from one to five days prior to hatching, the young begin to call from within the eggs. this induces and synchronizes hatching in siblings and stimulates adults to open the nest. it is not known if the adult that opens a given nest is the female which laid the eggs. as young emerge from the nest, the adult picks them up one by one in the tip of its mouth and transports them to the water. adults may also assist young in breaking through the egg shell by chewing or manipulating the eggs in its mouth.