Comparing an Anaconda and a Crocodile
The Key Factors in a Fight Between an Anaconda and a Crocodile
How do we know which reptile will win this fight? The answer is simple: we compare the bodies of each creature along with how they fight and see which creature has the greatest advantages. To achieve that, we have chosen six points of comparison for the anaconda and crocodile, and we’ll explore each in the pursuit of the answer of who survives this battle.
Physical Features of an Anaconda and a Crocodile
Size, power, and defenses are three of the most important indicators that we can use to figure out which animal will win a fight against the other. We are going to consider those features and more while we assign advantages to them.
Anaconda vs Crocodile: Size
Anacondas and crocodiles are both very large creatures. An anaconda can weigh up to 550lbs and measure up to 22 feet long (the longest ever recorded measured about 30 feet) with a body diameter of 12 inches. That length measurement is incredibly rare, though. Crocodiles are more massive, weighing up to 2,000lbs and measuring 20 feet long. The largest crocodile on record was named Lolong and was a saltwater crocodile. Lolong weighed 2,370 pounds and measured 20 feet 3 inches long! Crocodiles are larger creatures, so they get the advantage here.
Anaconda vs Crocodile: Speed and Movement
The anaconda is not known for its speed, but it can still move roughly 5 mph over short distances on land and reach 10 mph in the water. That’s not too swift, especially considering that the crocodile can move up to 22 mph on land in short bursts and 15 mph in the water while propelling a lot more weight. The crocodile has the advantage in terms of speed.
Anaconda vs Crocodile: Power and Teeth
An anaconda can have upwards of 100 rear-facing teeth that they use to bite and force their food into their bodies. Their crushing power is immense: 90 PSI. That’s more than enough to crush a human to death, and this power is used on much larger creatures including deer. Crocodiles have the strongest measured bite at 3,700 PSI. Their teeth are conical, perfect for biting into a creature to break bones or injure vital organs. We’re calling this section a tie since both creatures can exert a tremendous amount of force on enemies.
Anaconda vs Crocodile: Senses
Anacondas are like most other snakes in terms of their senses. They have pit organs that help them identify prey according to their heat output, and they are highly sensitive to chemicals in the air and vibrations in their environment. As fellow reptiles, crocodiles have similar senses. They can detect changes in pressure and vibrations while also possessing great nocturnal and underwater vision. Anacondas have better senses, and they would know that a crocodile was lurking about in most environments.
Anaconda vs Crocodile: Physical Defenses
Although they are large, anacondas lack physical defenses. They’re large and muscular, but anacondas are not overly fast, and they don’t have any special defenses along their body. However, their eyes are on top of their body, so most of them can remain hidden by the waters in which they live. Crocodiles have tough scales protecting their body, making it hard to bite them. Moreover, they can travel quickly on land and in the water. Crocodiles have an advantage in terms of physical defenses.
Combat Skills of an Anaconda and a Crocodile
Anacondas and crocodiles are both incredibly good at their methods of combat. An anaconda will ambush an enemy, bite it, and then wrap its body around it while exerting incredible crushing forces upon it. Crocodiles will launch a surprise attack and bite an enemy, essentially ensuring that the animal is unable to escape its incredible bite force. If they bite a vital place, like the head or neck, then they will just clamp down until the enemy dies. Should they latch onto a leg or other body part, they will begin rolling in place, tearing the limb off. Both animals are powerful in their own right, so we’re calling this a tie.
What Are Key Differences Between an Anaconda and a Crocodile?
An anaconda is a snake while a crocodile is closer in morphology to a lizard, even though they are not directly related to them. Crocodiles are heavier and faster than anacondas both on land and in the water. Anacondas often grow longer than crocodiles, and their senses are more developed than crocodiles in most respects. Although both creatures are aquatic reptiles, they use different means of hunting. Anacondas crush enemies to death but crocodiles bite and tear their enemies until they die. These contrasting elements give us enough insight to declare a winner in this fight.
Who Would Win in a Fight Between an Anaconda and a Crocodile?
A crocodile would beat an anaconda in a fight. A fully grown crocodile is simply too big and strong for an anaconda to kill. Even in an ambush situation, the anaconda would struggle to wrap enough of its body around the crocodile to inhibit its movement and crush it. Moreover, the anaconda attacks head-first, meaning its most vulnerable part of the body is going to be right near the strongest pair of jaws and teeth in the world. A crocodile would probably bite straight into an anaconda’s head and kill it instantly or just keep biting and tearing until the anaconda dies. It’s possible that an anaconda could kill a crocodile in the right circumstances, but the dizzying power and speed of a crocodile could end the fight in seconds rather than the minutes an anaconda needs.
