The simple answer is that crocodiles will eat anything that crosses their path, including humans.
Crocodiles are carnivores. Zebras, warthogs, hyenas, wildebeest, antelopes, small hippos, cattle, giraffes and numerous other animals are regularly consumed. They have even been known to eat the young of their own species. Some, but not all, species eat invertebrates, like shrimps, crabs and crayfish. Young crocodiles feed on fish, crustaceans and insects.
Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close and then rushing out to attack. They can employ a sneaky underwater approach where they submerge their whole body underwater, reach their prey, and lunge forward with their jaws open ready to clamp them shut. They move so quickly that they can even catch and eat some birds. They will also scavenge carrion (the decaying flesh of dead animals).
Large prey is dismembered by rolling and thrashing it around until pieces of flesh fall off the body. Crocodiles have small stomachs and large prey can last them many days or even weeks. They usually hide the carcass underwater or in the bushes. The crocodile doesn’t chew its food but devours it whole.
Large crocodiles eat very little during the cold season as their metabolism slows down drastically. Smaller crocodiles eat fairly regularly the whole year round. They store large amounts of fat to provide them with energy.
The crocodile has very sharp teeth and immensely strong jaw muscles. Its bite force is stronger than any other animal on the plant at 5000psi, compared with the 335psi of a Rottweiler, 400psi of a great white shark and 1000psi of a hyena.
Crocodiles are carnivores. Zebras, warthogs, hyenas, wildebeest, antelopes, small hippos, cattle, giraffes and numerous other animals are regularly consumed. They have even been known to eat the young of their own species. Some, but not all, species eat invertebrates, like shrimps, crabs and crayfish. Young crocodiles feed on fish, crustaceans and insects.
Crocodiles are ambush hunters, waiting for fish or land animals to come close and then rushing out to attack. They can employ a sneaky underwater approach where they submerge their whole body underwater, reach their prey, and lunge forward with their jaws open ready to clamp them shut. They move so quickly that they can even catch and eat some birds. They will also scavenge carrion (the decaying flesh of dead animals).
Large prey is dismembered by rolling and thrashing it around until pieces of flesh fall off the body. Crocodiles have small stomachs and large prey can last them many days or even weeks. They usually hide the carcass underwater or in the bushes. The crocodile doesn’t chew its food but devours it whole.
Large crocodiles eat very little during the cold season as their metabolism slows down drastically. Smaller crocodiles eat fairly regularly the whole year round. They store large amounts of fat to provide them with energy.
The crocodile has very sharp teeth and immensely strong jaw muscles. Its bite force is stronger than any other animal on the plant at 5000psi, compared with the 335psi of a Rottweiler, 400psi of a great white shark and 1000psi of a hyena.
