Ask a Croc Expert
Dr. Adam Britton first became fascinated by betoothed crocodyliforms when he was about 5 or 6 years old. Crocodilians have been his obsession ever since. The doctor of zoology is currently a research officer with Wildlife Management International. His research has focused on crocodilian biology, behavior, ecology and conservation management as well as bioacoustics and sensory capabilities of crocodiles. Britton has consulted on a number of documentaries and movies on crocodiles, including Discovery Channel's Ultimate Guide to Crocodiles and Crocodile Dundee in L.A.. Britton is also the author of crocodilian.com, a comprehensive online guide to information on crocodiles and alligators.
Read Dr. Britton's responses to your croc questions, below.
Crocodile Predators
Crocodile Speed
Croc/Human Interaction
Crocodile Size
Crocodile Hunting
Crocodile Defense
Alligators vs. Crocodiles
Crocodile Mothering
Crocodile Infections
Crocodile Bites
Crocs in Water
Croc Body Heat
The Crocodile Heart
Q: On Crocodile PredatorsMy name's John, and I'm 7 years old. Can you answer a question for me? I heard on a TV show that a black panther can kill a crocodile, but I wasn't too sure about that. I asked my parents, and they didn't have any idea. Is it true? Because a crocodile's skin is so thick and they have such a fast strike!
A: John, crocodiles certainly aren't invincible. The smaller the crocodile, the more vulnerable it is. Consider a little baby hatchling only 30 cm (12 inches) long — a nice easy snack for birds, carnivorous mammals, large reptiles, big fish and even large frogs! In fact, scientists estimate that about a quarter of all baby crocodiles die within a year of hatching, and less than 1 in 100 actually survives to 10 years of age. Being eaten by a predator is very common for crocodiles!
With increasing size, however, crocodiles become far less vulnerable to predators. Few animals could tackle a 10-foot crocodile and win, and virtually nothing can hope to escape an encounter with an 18-foot crocodile without losing its head! Larger crocodiles really only need to steer clear of other large crocodiles, humans with firearms and spears, and very angry large herbivores, such as elephants and hippos!
So it's all a matter of perspective. Lions and leopards can sometimes kill smaller crocodiles under 7 feet, but they wouldn't have much chance against a 14 footer weighing nearly half a ton. Crocodiles are fast and their strength is in their explosiveness, but if their bite doesn't connect with the attacker then it loses the initiative. With limited stamina compared with mammals, crocodiles tire easily and a persistent mammal can often get the upper hand. I've seen some interesting film of a pair of giant river otters attacking a black caiman in South America. The otters danced around the caiman, pawing at its tail. The caiman lashed out and lunged at its attackers, but within a few minutes it became so exhausted that the otters had a much easier time. Before long, they were feasting on its tail and the caiman could only sit and watch.
