Ask a Croc Expert
Read Dr. Britton's responses on the following croc topics:
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 SpeedHow fast can a crocodile run?
Thank you.
Seth M. Murray
A: It varies from one species to another. The land speed record for a crocodile is 17 kph (10.6 mph) measured in a galloping Australian freshwater crocodile. Yes, some crocodiles do gallop! It's remarkable to watch them bounding along in a most un-reptilian manner, but it's the fastest way to get back to the water when danger threatens. However, only a handful of species can gallop, including Cuban crocodiles, New Guinea crocodiles, African dwarf crocodiles and even smaller Nile crocodiles.
For most species, the fastest they can move is a kind of "belly run," where the body moves in a snake-like fashion, limbs splayed out to either side paddling away frantically while the tail whips to and fro. It doesn't look particularly elegant to anyone other than a crocodile fanatic, but it's certainly effective! Crocodiles can reach speeds of 10 or 11 kph (around 7 mph) when they "belly run," and often faster if they're slipping down muddy tidal riverbanks — the equivalent of a crocodilian toboggan (with teeth).
People often ask whether it's possible to outrun a crocodile, and the answer is yes! Don't bother trying to zigzag while you run, though — just cut a nice, straight line away from the crocodile as fast as you can, and you'll easily beat it. The danger that crocodiles pose is not their ability to run after you, but their ability to strike before you even know what's happening. In other words, keep your distance and you'll be safe.
