Lions are powerful mammals known as kings of the jungle, and they successfully hunt and kill creatures much larger than themselves. However, what happens when they encounter an adult crocodile? Crocodiles are top predators in the Nile and many other parts of Africa? We’ll show you the outcome of a lion vs. crocodile fight by giving you a keen insight into their physical traits, strengths and weaknesses. See which of these creatures snatch the victor from a terrifying battle!
Comparing Lions and Crocodiles
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| lion | Crocodile | |
| size | Weight: 264 lbs – 550 lbs Length: 4.7ft – 8.2ft Height: 3ft-4ft | Weight: 300-2,000 lbs Length: 10ft – 20ft |
| speed and movement type | -35 mph (50mph off for very short bursts) – Dash towards enemies with a galloping gait. | – 22 mph land speed (short-term) – Very fast crawling action – 15 mph in tail propelled water |
| Bite Force and Teeth | – 650-1000 PSI bite force -30 teeth, including up to four – 4 inch canines | 3,700PSI Bite Force – 4 inch teeth – 66 teeth |
| the senses | – Amazing déjà vu, especially night vision. – Good sense of smell to be able to smell the marks of other lions. – Good hearing allows them to hear prey from miles away. | – Excellent night vision and underwater vision – Baroreceptors help crocodiles recognize changes in their surroundings |
| defense | – Take pride in digital security – large size – Can run away from enemies quickly | – tough skin – Ability to travel on land and water – speed |
| offensive ability | – Sharp claws can tear enemies apart – Claw strikes deliver powerful and surprising blows – A powerful bite can tear bones and tear open prey. | – Incredibly powerful bite – Death rolls remove large chunks of meat instantly. |
| predatory behavior | – Mainly stalking and jumping on opponents – Can act as a stamina predator – Use groups to take down prey | – Ambush a predator in the water waiting for its prey to approach. |
Key factors in lion and crocodile fight
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It is not necessary to consider all elements of lions and crocodiles to determine the outcome of this fight. Instead, we’ve come up with a series of important key factors that could change the fight. Specifically, the physical fitness of the two creatures, as well as their respective combat prowess, will play the biggest role in determining who survives.
Physical Characteristics of Lions and Crocodiles
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Lions and crocodiles are very different, one is a terrestrial cat and the other is an aquatic reptile. Nonetheless, examining the five elements of their bodies will help us determine which one has the most advantage over the other from a physical standpoint. Check out each one!
Lion vs. Crocodile: Dimensions
A lion is a large mammal weighing over 500 pounds, standing 4 feet tall and 8 feet long. The largest lion ever caught in the wild weighed 675 pounds (captive lions weighed up to 827 pounds). These animals are all muscle and fury. The largest alligators weigh more than 2,000 pounds and are more than 20 feet long.
Crocodiles are much bigger than lions and they have an advantage here.
Lion vs. Crocodile: Speed and Movement
Lions are agile creatures that can run as fast as 50 mph in short bursts and 35 mph in a typical sprint. That’s much faster than alligators can handle; they can run at 22 mph for very short distances. However, lions do not swim very fast. Alligators can travel up to 15 mph in the water!
The Lions have an overall speed and movement advantage.
Lions and Crocodiles: Bite Force and Teeth
Lions have a strong bite at around 1,000 PSI, and their tusks help them pinch and tear apart their enemies. Crocodiles are better at biting. In fact, at 3,700 PSI of pressure, they have the strongest bite force of any animal in the world. Their teeth are long and conical, perfect for snapping bones and dismembering enemies.
Alligators have a major advantage in bite force and teeth.
Lion vs. Crocodile: Senses
Like other great hunters, lions have amazing vision and excel in low-light conditions. They smell good enough to notice other creatures from a distance and can hear prey from miles away. Alligators have excellent night vision and can see clearly even underwater. Alligators can also sense changes in stress, allowing them to quickly recognize changes and kill their prey.
All in all, lions have better senses than crocodiles, so they have an advantage here.
Lion vs. Crocodile: Physical Defense
Lions’ physical defenses are based on speed and size. Few other animals will attack them directly, especially when they bring their pride, a pride of lions. Alligators also have great defenses, with their tough skin and the safety of their shady habitats.
All in all, individual crocodiles have stronger defenses than lions.
Fighting skills of lion and crocodile
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Lions hunt in groups or alone, and they tend to maintain the same fighting style. They will bite and grab their prey to wear down their foes before going on the hunt. Otherwise, they ambush a creature and completely overwhelm it with brute force and a deadly bite by the throat.
Crocodiles are also ambush predators, waiting for their prey, grabbing a piece with their teeth and tearing it off. Sometimes, they will bite the head of the enemy, smashing their skull and killing the enemy in an instant.
Both creatures have very powerful but similar combat skills.
What is the main difference between a lion and a crocodile?
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Lions are mammals and crocodiles are reptiles. Crocodiles are bigger and heavier than lions. Both lions and crocodiles are top predators, and they hunt other animals using ambush tactics. However, lions are faster on land than crocodiles. Crocodiles are obviously faster in water than lions.
Lions usually hunt with a group of other people, while crocodiles hunt alone, even though they may live in an area full of other crocodiles. These differences, along with obvious morphological differences, distinguish the two animals.
Who would win a fight between a lion and a crocodile?
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Although a lion has many advantages over a crocodile in a fight, a crocodile will win in a fight with a lion. The crocodile is too big and strong for the lion to defeat it. If the crocodile can ambush the lion who is drinking from the river, the fight will be over immediately. The crocodile will drag the lion down and kill it easily.
But if a crocodile and a lion meet on land, an even more ferocious fight ensues. If the lion was smart enough to attack and bite the alligator, leaving it bleeding from a bunch of different wounds, it might still have a chance. However, this is unlikely to happen.
The most likely outcome is that the crocodile takes a bite, no matter where it bites, and snaps off a leg, punctures the skull, or bites into the soft belly of a lion. Either way, the alligator walks away with some scars and a good meal.
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