Crocodile vs Shark: Who Would Win in a Fight?

Crocodiles and sharks are two of the most dangerous predators in the world. Interestingly, they are two creatures that have not changed much in millions of years because they’re already perfect at what they do: eat other animals. Being that crocodiles live in many places around the world but need to stay close to land for food, the chances of a crocodile vs shark match ever happening are low.

Yet, we can use the available data about these creatures to predict what would happen if a shark and a crocodile managed to cross paths in the water; perhaps a great white shark swims a little too close to the shores in South America or gets lost in the Nile River. Or maybe a massive saltwater crocodile in the ocean finds itself nose to nose with a hammerhead while riding an ocean current.

Comparing the important data about these two creatures would ultimately show us which of these creatures would win; let us show you how it would play out!

Comparing a Crocodile and a Shark

The Key Factors in a Fight Between a Crocodile and a Shark

We don’t need to know everything about a crocodile and a shark to determine which one wins a battle. Focusing on a handful of significant traits that have the most impact on fights in the wild will give us all the insight we need.

We have compiled a list of six points of data about these creatures that will show us which has the advantages in several areas. Whichever animal has the greatest advantages in physical features and fighting abilities will likely win.

Physical Features of a Crocodile and a Shark

The easiest way to determine which creature has an edge in a fight is by comparing physical features. Larger, stronger animals that are more aware of their environment tend to do best in a battle. Consider these five areas of information and see which of the animals has the advantage over the other.

Crocodile vs Shark: Size

The size and weight of sharks and crocodiles are remarkably similar, with a crocodile capable of reaching 2,000lbs in weight and measuring 20ft long. A great white shark can weigh about 2,400lbs and reach 21ft in length.

Yet, when comparing maximum sizes, a stark difference emerges. The largest crocodile ever recorded was a saltwater crocodile named Lolong that reached 2,370 pounds. Meanwhile the largest great white shark on record is named Deep Blue and weighs a massive 5,000 pounds.

The shark is larger than the crocodile, so it gets the advantage.

Crocodile vs Shark: Speed and Movement

Crocodiles can move swiftly on land and in the water, reaching speeds of 22mph on land and 15mph in the water aided by the movement of their tail. Sharks also use a side-to-side motion of their tail to reach speeds of 35mph beneath the waves.

Sharks are faster than crocodiles in the water, so they get the advantage.

Crocodile vs Shark: Bite Power and Teeth

The crocodile has the strongest bite of any terrestrial animal at 3,700PSI while also using 66, 4-inch-long teeth on their prey. Sharks have them beat, though. They bite at 4,000PSI with 300 serrated teeth measuring more than two inches. The contest is close, and you’ll often see lists that rank the saltwater crocodile as the most powerful bite force. There’s a key reason for that, scientists have actually measured the bite of a saltwater crocodile whereas great white bites are based upon a computer model.

Regardless, we’ll give a very slight edge to the great white for the sake of this showdown because their teeth are sharper while crocodile teeth are blunt and used to hold prey in their mouth.

Sharks have the edge in bite power and teeth.

Crocodile vs Shark: Senses

Crocodiles have all the senses they need to detect when creatures move around them. Their ability to detect changes in pressure along with their very good vision helps them find and kill prey with ease.

Sharks have even more profound senses, capable of seeing well underwater and in low-light conditions. They can also smell better than just about anything in the water, sensing 1 part per 10 billion parts of some substances in the water. On top of that, they can also detect electrical fields given off by their prey.

Sharks have much better senses, a frightening concept being that the crocodile is such a capable killer.

Crocodile vs Shark: Physical Defenses

Sharks have massive size and bursts of speed to keep them safe from attackers. Crocodiles have tough skin, the ability to move in and out of the water, and have a high rate of speed on land and water.

With all that in mind, crocodiles have the best defenses and get the advantage.

Combat Skills of a Crocodile and a Shark

When it comes to combat skills, both sharks and crocodiles are ambush predators. They sense an enemy and then brutally attack with their powerful bites in an attempt to overwhelm their enemy.

The shark is very straightforward with its attacks: it bites and thrashes its enemy until it’s dead. Crocodiles have another trick: the death roll. They bite something, latch down on it, and then roll until that piece of flesh is removed from the enemy.

It’s hard to say which creature has the better combat skills, so we’re going to call this area a tie.

What Are Key Differences Between a Crocodile and a Shark?

Sharks are cartilaginous fish and crocodiles are reptiles. Great white sharks can generally weigh up to 2,400lbs and measure 21ft long, and crocodiles can weigh 2,000lbs and grow up to 20ft long. Although both creatures use their teeth to kill their prey, sharks’ teeth are serrated to tear large amounts of flesh while crocodiles’ teeth are conical and used to grab prey.

Crocodiles are semiaquatic and spend significant portions of their time in the water, but sharks are aquatic and spend all of their time in the water. These are the most significant differences between the two animals.

Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Crocodile and a Shark?

A shark would win a fight against a crocodile for many reasons. A shark would have the sensing advantage over a crocodile, easily finding the other creature first. At that point, the shark would go on the offensive, attacking the crocodile at full speed, landing the critical first blow.

Sharks can rend huge chunks from their foes with a single bite, and it could kill or severely incapacitate a crocodile before the latter responds. However, if a croc did respond, it would certainly do some damage to the shark. Those puncture wounds could be harmful, but the croc would probably not have the power to perform a death roll against the larger creature.

The shark could go for another bite as soon as the crocodile tries moving again, and it would aim for a more permanent solution, biting down on the crocs head, legs, or other vital areas.

The fight would be brutal and fast-paced, but there are few paths to victory for the crocodile while the shark only has to land one or two devastating bites to turn the fight in their favor.

What Animals Can Take Down a Shark?

It might be the largest, most feared predator in the sea, capable of taking down the mighty saltie. But even the shark is not entirely safe in its vast watery domain. There’s one creature which thinks nothing of hunting the toothy cartilaginous carnivore – the orca.

So how does the larger, more dangerous cousin of the dolphin measure up against the tiger of the seas? What would it bring to a fight? 

First of all is its size. A male orca is capable of tipping the scales at 6 tons or over 13,000 lbs. It is also capable of reaching 26 feet in length. There is also that truly immense bite force of 19,000 psi, making the white shark’s impressive 4,000 psi, seem rather pedestrian.

In terms of speed, the apex predator of the oceans is simply capable of matching the white shark’s top speed of 35 mph. In light of all those factors, things don’t look very good for the great white, clearly outclassed in terms of size and strength.

But that’s not all it would have to worry about either: orcas hunt in pods. And there’s simply no way, a lone great white would be able to stand up to a group of more powerful adversaries dedicated to the hunt.

Bonus: Are Great White Sharks Endangered?

Great white sharks have been decreasing in numbers for many decades due to overfishing and poaching, but they are currently not considered endangered. Rather, they are listed as vulnerable. Unfortunately, there are multiple shark species today that are listed as either endangered or critically endangered by the IUCN. Below is a list of some endangered shark species:

• Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarran)  These sharks, which can be found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea, are listed as critically endangered due to overfishing for the shark fin trade and habitat loss. 
• Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini)  Like the great hammerhead, the scalloped variety is also critically endangered due to the shark fin trade. Additionally, they are vulnerable due to getting caught in fishing gear meant to catch other varieties of fish.
• Dusky Shark (Carcharhinus obscurus)  These sharks are listed as endangered in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, and vulnerable worldwide, due to overfishing for their valuable fins, meat, and liver oil.
• Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)  While these sharks are protected in many countries, they still fall victim to accidental entanglement in fishing gear, strikes from ships, and illegal poaching. They are listed as endangered.
• Angelshark (Squatina squatina) These sharks, found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, are listed as critically endangered due to overfishing, habitat loss, and degradation.
• Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus)  Historically, basking sharks were hunted for their liver oil, used to make vitamin A, lamp oil, and tanning leather. Today they are also hunted for their fins, and fall victim to net entanglement and collisions with ships.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alessandro De Maddalena/Shutterstock.com