Why Don’t Crocodiles attack Hippos?
Hippos are Herbivores:
The first answer is that hippos and crocodiles share the same habitat but not the same prey. Hippos are herbivores, meaning they eat only plants, grasses, roots, leaves and fruits. Crocodiles are carnivores, meaning they eat meat from dead animals or from live prey. So Crocodiles don’t see Hippos as a threat to their food and Hippos don’t see Crocodiles as a threat to their food and so do Hippos
Hippos are Larger and Stronger
The second answer is that hippos are much larger and stronger than crocodiles. Hippos weigh up to 4 tons, making them the third-largest land mammal (after elephants and white rhinoceroses).
Hippos are too big for most crocodiles to tackle. The largest species of crocodile in Africa is the Salt water crocodile which can grow up to 6 meters long (19 feet). Hippopotamuses can weigh up to 4 tons (4000 kilograms). So even if a large crocodile did try to attack a hippo, it would probably end up being knocked off its feet or simply bitten in half by its big teeth! Even for 2 large saltwater crocodiles are no match for a grown Hippo.
Hippopotamus Thick Skin
Hippos have thick skin covered with thick hair that protects them from sunburn when they’re out in the water during the day, but it also makes it hard for a predator like a crocodile to sink its teeth into them easily because it’s very difficult for the teeth to get through all of that tough skin and hair.
Strong Jaws and Biteforce
Hippos have very strong jaws, and their teeth can be up to 1.5 feet long. The large size of these teeth makes it easy for them to bite through just about anything in their path, including crocodile skin! with a bite force of 12 600 kPa a Hippo can easily cut a crocodile in half. The Hippo’s large size and teeth make it an intimidating animal, even for a crocodile. They are not afraid of anything, and they will fight to defend themselves if necessary. Hippos don’t just have large teeth – their jaws are also very strong.
Hippos are Agile
Hippopotamuses are extremely agile in water, and on land. They can easily outrun a crocodile over short distances but Hippos are generally more aggressive and wouldn’t run away from a fight against crocs and usually come up on top.
Hippos are Smarter than Crocs:
Let’s face it, although crocodiles are apex predators and sit at the top of the food chain, they are not the smartest, Hippos are smarter than crocs. They use their heads as weapons against their enemies. Hippos will charge at enemies with open mouths, which they use to bite their foes.
Do crocodiles ever attack hippos?
The answer to this question is yes. Crocodiles are opportunistic predators, so they will attack anything that comes within reach, including hippos’ calves. Crocodiles will try to go after a hippo calf if it is far from the adults but wouldn’t take on a grown hippo due to the fact that Hippos are more aggressive than crocodiles. Hippos will attack any animal that comes near them and they will use their tusks as weapons. They are also very territorial animals, so when a crocodile enters their territory, they will attack it.
What animal can beat a hippo?
Hippos are the third largest land mammals, next to elephants and rhinos. They are very territorial and aggressive animals. Elephants and White rhinos can defeat hippos. Elephants can kill a hippo by goring it with their tusks or trampling it to death. Rhinos do stand a chance as well , but only if they have a direct hit on the hippo’s heart or brain. If this is not possible, then they will just run away from them as fast as they can.
Conclusion on why crocodiles don’t attack hippos
Crocodiles don’t attack hippos because they are much larger than them. Hippos have very tough skin, which can protect them from the teeth of a crocodile. Hippos also have strong jaws and sharp teeth that will make it difficult for a crocodile to bite down on them. The only way that a crocodile could kill a hippo would be by drowning it in water or suffocating it with mud.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
