You Won’t Believe How Easily These Crocodiles Go Vertical

Written by Kirstin Harrington
Updated: October 24, 2023
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The Original Adelaide River Queen Jumping Crocodile Cruises allow tourists and locals to get up close and personal with the crocodiles that roam the waters of Adelaide, Australia. There are two famous crocodiles from the area, Brutus and Dominator. 

These two animals are known for their impressive size and rivalry with each other. On these cruises, people are able to witness crocodiles jump vertically out of the water. It’s incredible to see such a massive animal launch its entire body into the air. 

Check Out This Impressive Crocodile Leaps

A crocodile seeks to travel vertically as it jumps. This is how crocodiles get their prey, which is typically an animal sitting on a tree. Given that crocodiles are not slow when they jump, it is a remarkable sight. They don’t swim as quickly as dolphins do. Dolphins use speed to leap out of the water. 

Crocodiles can jump while they’re still. They leap from the ground just like a human would. A crocodile raises its head above the water’s surface before leaping. Whatever they have their sights set on, most often a bird has to be visible in order for these animals to jump.

When the crocodile is prepared, it makes a sinusoidal undulation with its tail. It implies that the crocodile moves its tail in a manner similar to how a snake moves its body. The crocodile is forced out of the water by this motion. 

On Land And Sea

The incredible aspect of this movement is how quickly it occurs. In a fraction of a second, a crocodile can leap forth. The croc is propelled into the air as a result of the jump. Crocs can also jump a good distance into the air.

While it’s quite uncommon to see crocodiles jump onto land, they do occasionally do so. Given their short legs and inability to generate the necessary spring, crocs lack the physical characteristics to jump high. 

A crocodile’s jump is also more like a forward lunge than a true jump. Therefore, despite the fact that it may appear as though a crocodile is leaping up onto land, it actually more closely resembles a horizontal spring. When on land, the majority of crocodile species opt not to (or are unable to) propel themselves vertically.

The video below shows just how jaw-dropping it is when these animals do jump out of the water. Often for these boat tours, a skipper will hold a huge chunk of meat that’s attached to a string and stick. 

This attracts crocodiles to follow the boat, in hopes of getting a tasty treat. Once they’ve got the attention of these animals, the skipper will hold the meat close enough to the boat to impress travelers, but far enough away to keep them safe. In one fluid motion, the croc will jump straight out of the water to grab the meat before swimming back off into the murky water. 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Milan Zygmunt/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Kirstin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering animals, news topics, fun places, and helpful tips. Kirstin has been writing on a variety of topics for over five years. She has her real estate license, along with an associates degree in another field. A resident of Minnesota, Kirstin treats her two cats (Spook and Finlay) like the children they are. She never misses an opportunity to explore a thrift store with a coffee in hand, especially if it’s a cold autumn day!

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