Few animals strike fear in human beings like the king cobra. The snake is just as recognizable as it is deadly. However, the crocodile is another reptile that people want to avoid, and this animal kills many humans every year. We can’t help but wonder what would happen if these two reptiles confronted one another and decided to fight. Today, we’re going to explore a king cobra vs. crocodile fight and show you which of them has the best chance of winning a battle. We’ll figure out which one would come out on top by looking at each animal’s strengths and skills.
Comparing A King Cobra And A Crocodile
| King Cobra | Crocodile | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Weight: 10lbs-15lbs Length: 12ft-19ft | Weight: 40-2,200lbs Length: 10ft – 20ft |
| Speed and Movement Type | – 12 mph – Slithering along the ground | – 22 mph on land – Very fast crawling motion – 15mph in water propelled by its tail |
| Attacking Method | – Will lift the front of its body several feet from the ground and then strike, allowing it to deliver venom in the vital areas – Long fangs deliver up to 1000mg of venom – A single bite can kill 11 humans | – 3,700PSI bite power – Incredibly powerful bite – Death roll can instantly remove large chunks of flesh. – 4-inch teeth – 66 teeth |
| Defenses | – Large size – Threat display | – Tough skin – Ability to travel on land and water – Potential resistance to some elapid venoms – Speed |
| Predatory Behavior | – Ambush predator | – Ambush predators that wait in the water for prey to approach. |
What Are Key Differences Between A King Cobra And A Crocodile?
Crocodiles are larger than King cobras.
©iStock.com/anakeseenadee
The biggest differences between a king cobra and a crocodile are their size, morphology, and methods of attack. The king cobra is a limbless reptile that grows 19ft long and weighs 15 lbs; it attacks its prey using powerful neurotoxins. The crocodile is a quadrupedal reptile that weighs up to 2,000 lbs, grows 20ft long, and uses its massively powerful bite and long teeth to kill its prey.
We will take these differences between the animals into account to help us determine which one is most likely to win the battle. Yet, these aspects are only a few pieces of the puzzle. We need more information to determine whether the king cobra or the crocodile is going to land a killing blow.
What Are The Key Factors In A Fight Between A King Cobra And A Crocodile?
The king cobra is a deadly reptile with potent venom.
©Vova Shevchuk/Shutterstock.com
Some key factors in a fight between a king cobra and a crocodile include size, morphology, and attacking methods. Still, we must also explore other factors that would impact this fight.
In particular, we must look at speed, predatory behavior, and physical defenses. By considering each of these qualities relative to the king cobra and crocodile, we can see which animal has better advantages and is more likely to win the battle.
King Cobra Vs Crocodile: Size
Crocodiles are much larger than king cobras. The average crocodile will grow between 40 lbs and 2,000 lbs depending on its species, and it can grow between 10ft and 20ft long. However, the largest crocodiles can grow longer than 20ft and weigh upwards of 2,400 lbs. These massive animals consume large mammals and even kill humans.
King cobras will usually measure between 12ft and 15ft, and they can weigh up to 15 lbs. However, the largest king cobra measured almost 19ft in length.
Crocodiles have a large size advantage against the king cobra.
King Cobra Vs Crocodile: Speed And Movement
Crocodiles are faster than king cobras. The average crocodile can use a crawling motion on land to reach speeds of about 22 mph. They can swim at 15 mph by using their tails to help propel them. The fact that these animals can move at those speeds despite their size is simply frightening. However, they can only reach their top speed of 22 mph on land over very short distances.
King cobras are relatively slow animals that can move at about 12 mph. Their type of locomotion does not do them any favors since they must slither on the ground. The king cobra can attack quickly from its striking position, though.
Crocodiles have a significant speed advantage over king cobras.
King Cobra Vs Crocodile: Attacking Method
The king cobra attacks by ambushing its prey and biting into their flesh while delivering a deadly neurotoxic venom. It can deliver about 1,000mg of venom per bite, enough to kill an elephant or a dozen people! Sometimes it will bite and hold onto the prey until it dies, but it will bite larger animals, like snakes, and then leave them to die before returning.
Crocodiles have some of the most powerful bites in the world. They use their incredibly strong jaws and 4-inch teeth to bite their prey, ensuring they can’t escape while doing a lot of damage to their internal organs. A single bite can kill their enemies. If the crocodile attacks a larger creature, it will engage in a death roll, tearing off chunks of flesh or limbs.
Both animals are highly effective killers, so this section is a tie.
King Cobra Vs Crocodile: Physical Defenses
The crocodile has better physical defenses than a king cobra. This animal is known for having very thick skin. In fact, several crocodiles have been shot by hunters to no avail. Aside from their thick skin, they can stay underwater for a long time, only leaving their eyes above the water to scope out prey. Although they don’t need it, they also have a hissing threat display! All that combined with great speed, ensures these creatures are well-protected against foes.
The king cobra has some speed, the ability to flee into small crevices, and its hood-spreading threat display to frighten off enemies.
All in all, the crocodile has an advantage in physical defense.
King Cobra Vs Crocodile: Predatory Behavior
Both the king cobra and the crocodile are ambush predators. These animals will lie in wait for their prey to come along and then attack them. The king cobra will wait in tall grass, lash out to bite their prey, and then either hold on or retreat while their prey dies.
The crocodile waits in the water for its prey to come to get a drink. When the animal gets close enough, the crocodile will lunge at the enemy, grab them, and pull them into the depths while inflicting deep bites. The trauma from these bites, death rolls, and drowning quickly overwhelm its enemies.
Crocodiles have a far more vicious attack, but king cobras are also very effective.
Who Would Win In A Fight Between A King Cobra And A Crocodile?
Crocodiles are very effective hunters with a powerful offense, defense, and speed.
©iStock.com/SteveByland
A crocodile would win a fight against a king cobra. Let’s consider a few scenarios that show why this would happen. If the crocodile ambushes the king cobra, the fight is over in a single bite. The crocodile would cause such severe damage to the king cobra that it would die immediately or as soon as a tooth penetrated its head.
If the king cobra bites the alligator first, it may not have an impact. The crocodile’s skin is very thick. While the king cobra has fangs that measure 0.5″ inches, that might not be enough to deliver the venom into the crocodile’s system. Even then, the crocodile can catch the fleeing snake and kill it.
If both animals met on equal footing, it would be a surefire win for the crocodile. It has the speed to launch an attack and land a fatal blow before the cobra can get into the fight. If the cobra gets snatched up by the crocodile and lands a counterattack, the cobra will still die long before the crocodile succumbs to venom.
Overall, the crocodile comes away as the winner in all situations.
Other Animals Than Could Take Down A Crocodile
As they are fierce hunters, the crocodile seems like a worthy opponent, one that doesn’t have many predators but like all creatures, they do have animals that like to prey on them. While man appears to be the biggest predator of the alligator, there are a few others animals that can inflict damage and even death. Lions, tigers, leopards, and panthers – the big cats – are among the few animals that have enough strength and fearlessness to take on this full-grown reptile. Of these big cats, the tiger is the one that has the ability to swim, which makes the crocodile vulnerable on both land and in water.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Vova Shevchuk/Shutterstock.com
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