Nile Crocodile vs African Lion: What happens when Africa’s largest predator challenges the great African Lion?
Crocodile
A legendary monster said to have preyed on dinosaurs, the crocodile is a notorious predator, one of few that actively hunt humans.
Crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the world and have the strongest bite force in the entire animal kingdom.
Larger crocodiles, such as Nile Crocodiles and their even bigger cousins, Saltwater Crocodiles, have no predators at all.
In fact, they will even occasionally prey on other apex predators, such as lions and tigers.
If lions are the king of the jungle, then crocodiles are their dragons.
Lion
The lion, often referred to as “the king of the jungle”, has been a symbol of majesty, courage, and strength across many cultures for thousands of years. And for good reason. They’re one of the biggest and most powerful, yet regal, felines in the world.
A pride – or group of lions – can include a dozen or more females and up to three males.
A pride can take down prey multiple times their size and particularly large and experienced prides will even hunt elephants.
Male lions have been given a bad reputation for being “lazy” and “entitled”, since the females do 90% of the hunting, while the males stay at home. However, it’s not without reason that the females bring home the bacon, as they are the faster of the two and better fit for the hunt.
On the other hand, the males are charged with a different, yet arguably just as crucial job. It’s their responsibility to defend the pride’s territory and cubs, both from other predators and from other lions; the latter of which will attempt to usurp the alpha, kill the cubs, and then produce his own offspring with the pride’s lionesses.
Because it is in his nature to conquer, protect, and pass on his genes, being a warrior is deeply ingrained into a lion’s instincts, making him a frighteningly formidable opponent.
Analysis: Nile Crocodile vs African Lion
| Stats | Nile Crocodile | African Lion |
| Weight | 2,000 lbs (900 kg) | 420 lbs (190 kg) |
| Height | 1.7 ft (0.5m) | 4 ft (1.2m) |
| Length (Tail Included) | 18 ft (5.5m) | 10 ft (3m) |
| Bite Force | 3,000 PSI | 1,000 PSI |
The crocodile has the benefit of a very large size, as well as a devastating bite.
Lions, on the other hand, are taller and have their speed, agility, and stamina as an advantage over the croc, which can only move quickly in short, explosive bursts.
This isn’t too useful however against an opponent whose back is covered in armor he can’t penetrate and it seems that there isn’t much a lion can do to attack in such a case.
However, the same can be said for the crocodile too, which kills large prey by drowning it.
Unless they are by the water’s edge, the crocodile is limited in options as well.
Conclusion
Considering the benefits and advantages one of these animals has over the other, a fight between them will most likely end with one of the parties retreating, although it isn’t completely impossible for one to successfully kill the other.
If it is assumed that neither side will easily give up and each of the competitors is equally as determined to win as the other, the lion will probably be the one to lose.
Despite his abilities, there just isn’t too much the lion can do to put such a large armored reptile in a lot of danger, but one bite from the crocodile would cause serious injury to the lion.
In fact, there have been cases in which one large crocodile robbed an entire pride of lions of their meal.
In addition, if the crocodile can manage to perform its infamous death roll on any part of the lion’s body that would be fatal, such as its head, such a fight to the death will also most likely end with the crocodile as the victor.
The lion may be the king of the jungle, but the crocodile has no king.