What's the length of the average family car and powerful enough to devour those inside? The largest saltwater crocodile caught in the Northern Territory this year.

Key points: The animal was euthanased because "he was in such poor condition"

The animal was euthanased because "he was in such poor condition" The crocodile was brought to the local school to show children and warn them to heed signs at swimming spots

The crocodile was brought to the local school to show children and warn them to heed signs at swimming spots Locals were seen swimming just 50 metres from the trap that caught this crocodile

At 4.72 metres, the snappy saltie took the title by just 1 centimetre after being caught in a trap at Borroloola.

The new record comes after an elusive monster crocodile, thought to be one of the biggest on record, was captured near Katherine in July after a decade-long game of hide and seek.

Measuring 4.71 metres and weighing in at up to 600 kilograms, the cranky croc's title has now been narrowly surpassed.

"By all accounts, it's 1 centimetre longer than the one caught in Katherine," senior district ranger for the Gulf Region Andrew Peckham said.

"Because he was in such poor condition … rather than relocate to a croc farm, the decision was made for the animal's welfare not to relocate and he was euthanised."

Mr Peckham said locals were seen swimming just 50 metres away from the trap where it was caught, upstream of the Macarthur River crossing.

"Despite all the signs and all the Crocwise campaigns we have throughout communities, people still don't seem to heed warning signs," he said.

"What happened with this one, when it was removed it was taken up to the school to reinforce that these animals, they are real, you know.

"You're living in crocodile country."

This 4.27-metre crocodile was hauled out of a creek in Darwin Harbour in June. ( NT Parks and Wildlife )

Though you probably wouldn't want to come face-to-face with its toothy grin, the monster is dwarfed by previous records.

According to the Northern Territory Government, the largest saltwater crocodile ever caught in Australia was captured in a net on the Mary River in 1974, clocking in at 6.4 metres.

The largest saltwater crocodile ever caught in a trap measured just over 5 metres, while in recent months, authorities have captured a number of crocodiles in excess of 4 metres.

A 4.27-metre crocodile was hauled out of a creek in Darwin Harbour by wildlife rangers in June, while two salties — dubbed Gobbo and Croco — were dragged from a dam on Annaburroo Station in February.