Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile: What Are the Differences?

Crocodiles are the largest reptiles on the planet today. They are surprisingly fast, powerful, and deadly to anything that crosses their paths. While not all crocodile species are the same, it can be hard to tell them apart. They have many similarities in their looks and preferred habitats. Two of the largest crocodiles are the Nile and the saltwater crocodiles. We’re going to perform a Nile crocodile vs saltwater crocodile comparison and show you what makes these creatures special and tell you where you’re most likely to see them!

Comparing a Nile Crocodile and a Saltwater Crocodile

The Key Differences Between a Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile

The most significant differences between a Nile crocodile and a saltwater crocodile are their size, color, and preferred habitats.

Saltwater crocodiles are larger than Nile crocodiles on average, weighing between 400 and 1,150 pounds, while the Nile crocodile averages between 500 and 910 pounds.

Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile: Size

On average, saltwater crocodiles are larger than Nile crocodiles, but they both have similar maximum sizes. The largest saltwater crocodiles are believed to reach up to 23 feet in length and weigh over 2,200 pounds. Their average size is believed to be between 400 and 1,150 pounds and 10 to 21 feet long.

However, Nile crocodiles have an average size of 500 to 910 pounds and between 9 and 15 feet. The largest Nile crocodile measured about 21 feet and weighed upwards of 2,400 pounds.

Overall, the saltwater crocodile is considered the largest reptile species alive today.

Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile: Species

The Nile crocodile belongs to the species Crocodylus niloticus, and the saltwater crocodile belongs to the species Crocodylus porosus.

When you hear the term “saltwater crocodile,” it’s easy to become confused. After all, crocodiles can abide living in saltwater and freshwater for the most part. For example, the American crocodile spends most of its life in or near saltwater, but the Nile crocodile prefers freshwater.

Saltwater crocodile refers to a specific species and not necessarily the creature’s habitats.  

Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile: Location

The Nile crocodile lives in sub-Saharan Africa, in the freshwater river from which it gains its name along with many others on the continent. Their range stretches to the continent’s southern portions and even Madagascar.

Also, humans have found Nile crocodiles in the United States. The reptile species may be reproducing in the Everglades, hidden from human sight.

The saltwater crocodile is found in rivers, swamps, and coastal waters from the east coast of India throughout much of Southeast Asia and to the northern coasts of Australia. These crocodiles can spend significant amounts of time at sea, and they can swim long distances.  

Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile: Prey

Both Nile and saltwater crocodiles are apex predators. They hunt without fear of being killed. Yet, their different living areas give them access to different prey. For example, saltwater crocodiles can eat water buffalo, cattle, boar, crabs, turtles, snakes, fish, and humans.

Nile crocodiles attack zebras, wildebeests, frogs, waterfowl, other reptiles, and human beings. Both of these creatures are highly effective predators that attack and consume just about anything in their range.

Nile Crocodile vs Saltwater Crocodile: Interactions with Humans

Nile crocodiles pose a significant threat to human life. It’s estimated that they attack and kill about 1,000 people per year. These crocodiles are very aggressive toward people.

Saltwater crocodiles are less aggressive toward human beings than Nile crocodiles. However, they still attack and kill dozens or even a few hundred people yearly.  

Interestingly, the deadliest crocodile attack in human history was committed by saltwater crocodiles. This attack occurred in Myanmar during World War II. It’s estimated that 500 soldiers died in the mangrove swamps on Ramree Island as they blindly fled into crocodile territory. We’ll never know how many the crocodiles took for certain, though.  

As you can see, the saltwater crocodile and the Nile crocodile are similar creatures. However, the Nile crocodile is more aggressive, lives in a different part of the world, and averages a smaller size compared with the saltwater crocodile. Your best bet is to stay far away from either one of these massive reptiles in the wild!

Bonus: How Can You Tell an Alligator and a Crocodile Apart?

We’ve looked at some differences between the Nile crocodile vs saltwater crocodile, and have seen that the Nile crocodile is a smaller but more aggressive creature than a saltwater variety. But what if you were in an area where modern-day alligators and crocodiles co-existed–would you be able to tell them apart? 

In terms of physical characteristics, an alligator has a U-shaped snout, webbed feet, a wide upper jaw that hides the lower teeth and overlaps the lower jaw, and roughly 80 teeth. Its teeth measure from 1 inch for its smaller teeth to as much as 2 ½ inches for its largest. In color, alligators are dark gray or black with a cream underbelly.

Crocodiles, by comparison, have V-shaped snouts, feet that are not webbed but possess a jagged fringe, and upper and lower jaws that are roughly the same size, allowing the teeth to interdigitate. Crocodiles possess 60-70 teeth that are slightly curved and conical and protrude when their mouths are closed. Saltwater crocs have 66 teeth, some of which grow as long as 5 inches. Crocodiles’ teeth are not sharp, but are blunt, as they use them to hold prey tight rather than ripping them apart. Crocodiles are mostly olive green or light brown with a mottled pattern.

Alligators can be found in 2 locations–America (the American alligator) and China (the Chinese alligator). Crocodiles can be found in many more places worldwide: Egypt and 25 other countries in Africa (Nile crocodile), Asia, Oceania, South Florida, and South America (American crocodile). Regarding habitat, alligators prefer freshwater areas like swamps, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, while crocodiles are able to tolerate salt water, enabling them to inhabit lagoons and islands, as well as rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps.

As far as prey goes, you’d likely observe either the alligator or crocodile eating the same animals: fish, birds, turtles, and various mammals. They are both apex predators that primarily consume other animals as their sole source of nutrition. 

Finally, they differ in size. While alligators weigh from 400 lbs to 800 lbs and range in length from 8.2 feet to 11.2 feet, crocodiles are larger animals, measuring 10 feet to 20 feet long and weighing 300 lbs to 2,000 lbs. So if you are observing one of these reptiles in the wild, you’ll need to take into account its unique characteristics, its size, and the area you are observing it in to determine whether it’s an alligator or a crocodile.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©

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