Sliding through the water like a great torpedo of death, the Great White Shark has very little to fear in its natural environment. Powerful ocean predators, they strike fear into the heart of marine life and humans alike, even though shark attacks are rather rare.
Enter the crocodile. King of the aquatic reptiles, this mighty behemoth causes terror on land and within the water and also has very little to fear as it enjoys its status at the top of its food chain.
Yet, what if these two species were to clash? Who would come out victorious?
Each of these mighty beasts have their own advantages, so let’s break down and analyze each contender’s strengths and weaknesses to make the best decision as to who would come out as the champion in a winner-take-all death match.
Great White Shark Vs. Crocodile
Before we get into the specifics, we need to learn a little more about our competitors to understand what makes them who they are and what factors determine their fighting styles.
The Great White Shark
Cruising temperate coastal waters in search of prey, Great Whites can also be found in deeper waters or even the tropics. He enjoys feasting on fish and sometimes even other sharks, and as he grows, he turns to larger prey such as dolphins, seals, sea turtles, and similar aquatic life. He also has no qualms about scavenging carcasses from time to time.
While reportedly territorial and solitary, he occasionally has been known to spend long periods of time with a buddy, hunting and traveling as a pair when the mood strikes him.
He typically has little to fear other than occasional conflicts with humans, but larger Great Whites can prove threatening, so he needs to tread carefully when around his own kind.
The Crocodile
Often recognized by his eyes and snout easing up above the water line, the crocodile is feared for his powerful bite. He is a large force to be reckoned with, especially in the water, where he is more at home than on land.
Typically making his home in humid lowlands, the crocodile enjoys eating fish and as he grows, develops a taste for small mammals and waterfowl that can be found on or near the shore.
He enjoys his status as the largest living reptile and also lives his life with little fear of other species. Sunning to warm his reptilian blood, he holds himself with the nobility of a king, daring anyone to challenge his authority on land or sea.
Tale of the Tape
Great White Shark |
Crocodiles |
|
Weight |
4,200 – 5,000 lb | 2000 lb |
Length |
15 – 20 feet | Up to 23 feet long |
Habitat |
temperate coastal waters | lakes, rivers, wetlands |
Lifespan |
70+ years | 70 years |
Bite Force |
4,095 lbf | 3700 PSI |
Speed |
30 mph in short bursts | 7 – 8 mph |
Temperament |
Aggressive | Aggressive |
Prey |
Carnivores: fish, sea lions, seals | Carnivore: insects, fish, birds, frogs, lizards, small mammals |
Size and Weight
The size of an opponent can make a difference in battle. Let’s see how each of our combatants weigh in!
Here’s our Great White Shark. He actually falls somewhere in the middle range of size for his species, with the whale shark acknowledged as the largest. Nonetheless, the scale still reads in the neighborhood of 4000 pounds (a few of his kind even hit 5K and more!), so he definitely has the weight to throw around and he can stretch a little over twenty feet in length.
In the other corner, our crocodile can reach approximately 2000 lbs and also extend twenty feet from head to tail.
It’s a lot compared to most species it encounters, and while they can reach a similar length, our shark can weigh the same as two massive crocodiles put together, sometimes with weight to spare.
Advantage: Great White Shark
Speed/Movement
In the event that an opponent is overmatched in size, speed can provide the answer to solving this opponent. As this battle will more than likely take place in shallow water, that will be taken into account here.
Within the water, a great white can maneuver at a sleek 35 mph providing itself with enough speed to quickly overtake its prey.
While the crocodile is much faster in the water than on land, he typically tops out at 20 mph.
The crocodile is not off to the best start here, giving ground in both size and speed. He will need to rely on other means if he wants to win this battle.
Advantage: Great White Shark
Weapons
Let’s see what arsenal the two giants bring to the fight.
The great white shark takes full advantage of his exceptional mass and speed. He is known for bashing into his prey with a quick burst of speed, letting his weight take its roll before his thousands of razor sharp teeth bite down. These teeth exist in several rows and when those in the front fall out, they are quickly replaced.
The bite of a shark can be devastating and can often put an end to a fight with a single, well-placed crunch and can deliver the most powerful PSI in bite strength recorded, other than that of . . .
. . . the crocodile. Crowned king of the powerful bite of all creatures, this is the crocodile’s wheelhouse. Discounting computer models that predict that the largest sharks can deliver up to 4,000 PSI, as far as actual records show, the crocodile is the reigning champion with 3,700 PSI and can have a significantly greater power than the average shark.
Both predators tend to prefer ambushing their prey and finishing the matter with a decisive snap of their jaws.
If the battle does not end immediately, the shark typically waits for its target to die from the first bite, while the crocodile usually drags its prey into the water to drown it. This is, however, less effective against a shark, unless the crocodile keeps the shark stationary, as then it is susceptible to drowning.
Considering all of the elements involved here, it’s probably fairly close, but we’re going to give this to the crocodile.
Advantage: Crocodile
Intelligence
Neither of these two species are considered top line in the intelligence department among animal species, but nonetheless, they do exhibit some pretty impressive smarts.
Great whites are fond of hunting dolphins as their prey, which are considered very intelligent, so he has to have some pretty good skills and thinking abilities of his own if he is going to outsmart them.
He is also able to learn from his experiences and is able to carefully plan and coordinate an ambush of his prey.
The crocodile is considered a highly intelligent reptile, also possessing great operant conditioning to improve his hunting ability. These large reptiles have also been witnessed using tools, which is a prized indicator of intellectual ability.
In this case, the crocodile will strategically place sticks and branches over its jaw. While this seems unusual, the reasoning behind it is that these perches are often prized in the water by birds, which are attracted to these handy resting spots.
As they fly in for a much needed rest, the crocodile makes it a permanent one.
Advantage: Crocodile
Hunting Skills/Instincts To Kill
Knowledge of warfare and well honed skills can take down even the mightiest prey if applied correctly. How skilled are these hunters?
The Great White is a powerful predator who tends to ambush his target in a surprise attack, lay into it with his mighty teeth, and (if that doesn’t finish things) will swim around and wait patiently for his meal to bleed out before feasting.
The mighty Saltwater Crocodile performs his hunts in the same manner, only when his unmatched gnash doesn’t finish the job, he drags his prey into the water in order to drown it.
Both are apex predators and aggressive; since they both employ very similar tactics, this one is going down as a tie.
Advantage: Tie
Weaknesses
Are there any advantages that a competitor can take advantage of when facing these two species? Let’s find out!
Obviously, the shark is limited to water, which is a weakness that the crocodile does not share. Other than that, his major weakness is that if he is not regularly in motion, he can actually drown. Being placed in a situation where he can’t move for his gills to filter water can result in his death. He also cannot swim if his fins are damaged too greatly.
Surprisingly, the crocodile’s greatest area of strength is also his greatest weakness. While he has unparalleled bite strength on the way down, his ability to open his mouth is quite the opposite.
He simply does not have a lot of muscle strength in that department, as evidenced by the fact that a rubber band can keep a crocodile from opening his powerful jaws at all!
As it seems unlikely that the shark can leverage the crocodile’s weakness, we are going to award this one to him. He’s making a pretty great comeback!
Advantage: Crocodile
Great White Shark |
Crocodile |
|
Size |
✓ | |
Strength |
✓ | |
Intelligence |
✓ | |
Aggression |
Draw | Draw |
Agility |
✓ | |
Speed |
✓ | |
Fighting Instincts |
Draw | Draw |
Final Verdict: Who Would Win In a Fight
This is where the rubber meets the road. The great shark has the size and speed advantage, but the crocodile has the ability to leverage many advantages that could make a significant difference in a one-on-one engagement?
So who would win in a fight?
As both predators tend to launch their attacks from ambush, the answer to this may boil down to whichever one manages the first successful strike. Each has a mighty bite that can debilitate or finish off a typical opponent instantly, and if the crocodile manages to damage the shark’s fin or hold it stationary, it could cause the shark to drown.
Likewise, if the shark hits first, it will cause significant damage and with its speed, will more than likely stay out of reach until the crocodile weakens and dies.
With these considerations, it’s impossible to discount that the great white is not only twice the size, but also faster. Chances are good he’s going to get in there first, and while he may take damage, he gets our advantage in this conflict, and therefore, is crowned our victor.
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