Crocodiles and tigers are both apex predators capable of hunting large prey. However, the largest representatives of each species, the Siberian tiger and the saltwater crocodile, do not encounter each other in the real world. Yet, we can use information about them to determine which of them would win in a hypothetical battle. Discover the winner of a battle between a crocodile vs. tiger!
Comparing a Crocodile and a Tiger
| Saltwater Crocodile | Tiger | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Weight: 400 to 1,150 pounds, but they can reach 2,200 pounds Length: 10 to 21 feet, perhaps a few feet longer | Weight: 220 to 770 pounds Height: 2.5 to 3.5 feet at the shoulder Length: 7 to 11 feet |
| Speed | – 12 to 22 mph over short distances on land – 15 to 28 mph in the water | – 40 to 50 mph |
| Defenses | – Large bodies allow them to last a long time in a fight – They can stay underwater for up to an hour without surfacing, making them hard to spot – Tough, scaly skin offers them some protection | – Incredible speed to get away from trouble – Stealthy hunters that are hard to see – Their large size ensures few animals can bring them down |
| Offensive Capabilities | – Has roughly 66 large teeth designed to grab, puncture, and hold prey – Bite force of 3,700 psi – They have the size and power to drag their prey into the water and drown them – Can use an attack called a death roll to grab and roll their prey, disorienting, drowning, and otherwise harming prey | – Has a bite force of 1,000 psi – Has 30 teeth with the longest measuring 3 inches – 4-inch-long claws and exceptionally powerful forelegs |
| Predatory Behavior | – They’re ambush predators that often wait near the water’s edge for their prey | – Ambush predators that stalk from cover and wait for the right moment to attack – Attempts to bite their prey on the neck to deliver a fatal bite |
What Are 2 Key Differences Between a Crocodile and a Tiger?
Saltwater crocodiles are large, deadly reptiles.
©sushil kumudini chikane/Shutterstock.com
The key differences between a crocodile and a tiger exist in their size and morphology. For starters, crocodiles are large reptiles while tigers are large mammals. Crocodiles have long bodies, a long tail, and an elongated snout. They can weigh between 400 and 1,150 pounds and grow anywhere from 10 to 21 feet long.
Tigers are the largest of all the so-called big cats, possessing long tails, large bodies, and standing upwards of 3.5 feet tall at their shoulder. They can reach weights of between 220 and 770 pounds at their largest, and they can grow up to 11 feet long.
These are the major differences between the large mammal and the massive reptile. These factors will influence the fight, but size is not the only thing that matters.
What Are the Key Factors in a Fight Between a Crocodile and a Tiger?
A
Siberian
tiger stalks through the snow.
©Vaclav Sebek/Shutterstock.com
The major elements in this fight are the animals’ size, speed, defenses, ability to fight, and predator behaviors. We’re going to explore each of these facets by comparing the two contestants in this hypothetical fight. By the time we’re finished, we’ll have a good idea of which animal would win.
Crocodile vs. Tiger: Size
The largest saltwater crocodile is larger than the Siberian tiger. The average saltwater crocodile can grow anywhere between 400 and 1,150 pounds, but they can also reach weights of 2,000 pounds at their largest. These creatures can grow 10 to 20 feet long, or a few extra feet in some cases.
Meanwhile, Siberian tigers can grow between 2.5 and 3.5 feet tall at the shoulder, and they can reach lengths of 11 feet from nose to tail.
The crocodile has the size advantage in this fight.
Crocodile vs. Tiger: Speed
Unsurprisingly, tigers are very fast animals. They can reach speeds of 40 to 50 miles per hour at their greatest speeds. However, they can only reach such a pace when they are closing in on their prey. Crocodiles are not slow by any means. They can move at speeds between 12 and 22 miles per hour on land when bursting forth from the water. However, they can also move at 15 to 28 miles per hour in the water.
The tiger has the speed advantage in this fight.
Crocodile vs. Tiger: Defenses
Tigers are stealthy creatures that stay out of sight when pursuing prey. Their fur coloration helps provide some camouflage for them. Tigers also have the benefit of their large size keeping them safe from attacks by smaller, weaker creatures. Few animals in their area can even attempt to kill a tiger.
Saltwater crocodiles are also very large, deadly creatures. Their size makes crocodiles hard to attack. They have thick skin, scutes that offer some protection, and habitats that make them very hard to see. Saltwater crocodiles can hold their breath for about an hour, allowing them to stay hidden from potential danger. However, they use their ability to stay underwater for a long time to hunt their prey.
All in all, the crocodile has a slight edge in terms of defense since it can stay underwater for such a long time.
Crocodile vs. Tiger: Offensive Capabilities
Tigers have two means to attack their prey: their teeth and their claws. Tigers prefer to bite their prey on the neck, driving their 3-inch-long teeth into them with a bite force of 1,000 psi. Tigers can also use their powerful legs and 4-inch claws to shred their prey and keep them from moving.
Meanwhile, crocodiles also use their bite to kill their prey. They have a much stronger bite force, though. In fact, they have one of the highest bite forces ever recorded at 3,700 psi. They will bite their prey and then either chomp it to death or perform what is called a death roll. This is when the crocodile bites down on a part of the prey while in the water and then begins to viciously roll over and over. This move can drown prey, amputate limbs, and disorient them. These creatures can also use their tail to lash out at prey and knock them down.
Both enemies have incredibly powerful attacks, but the crocodile has a much stronger bite, so we’re giving it the edge in this fight.
Crocodile vs. Tiger: Predatory Behavior
Both the crocodile and the tiger are ambush predators. A crocodile will wait under the water for prey to come close to the water’s edge or will quietly pursue prey before using a sudden burst of speed to grab them.
Tigers stalk their prey, often while trailing behind them and waiting for the right moment to strike. When the time is right, they will use their blazing speed to chase down their prey and deliver a bite to their neck or throat.
Both predators use a similar predatory behavior, so we’re not going to assign the advantage to either.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between a Crocodile and a Tiger?
The crocodile would be too much for a tiger to overcome in many cases.
©Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock.com
A saltwater crocodile would win a fight against a tiger. At their largest, saltwater crocodiles can be over twice the size of a Siberian tiger. They’re surprisingly swift and have an incredibly powerful bite. Still, this fight comes down to where the fight occurs and how it starts.
With the benefit of an ambush, the saltwater crocodile would dispatch the tiger. The same can be said about the tiger and the crocodile.
In the water, the crocodile would overwhelm the tiger despite the big cat being an adept swimmer. The crocodile is simply better suited to fight in that environment. On land, the fight would be a tad more complicated. If the tiger was smart, patient, and lucky, it could attack the crocodile on its head and neck, perhaps dealing fatal damage.
However, at their maximum size, even on land, the crocodile would benefit from a prolonged fight. If it survived the initial assault, the reptile would eventually trip up the big cat or otherwise land a bite. Meanwhile, without an ambush or following a failed ambush, the tiger would probably back down and seek out easier prey. This fight would be close on land, but the crocodile is the clear winner on water.
The crocodile’s physical defenses, large teeth, bite strength, and viciousness would help it overcome the tiger in the majority of cases.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © PomInOz/Shutterstock.com
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