Head to head
Saltwater Crocodile vs Nile Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile and the Nile crocodile are the two largest and most dangerous crocodilians, and between them they account for the great majority of fatal crocodile attacks on humans. The "saltie" is the bigger animal and the ocean-goer; the Nile crocodile is smaller but lives alongside far more people.
| Saltwater Crocodile | Nile Crocodile | |
|---|---|---|
| Max size | ~6 m, up to ~1,000 kg | ~5 m, up to ~750 kg |
| Range | Coasts of the Indo-Pacific — India to Australia and Fiji | Sub-Saharan Africa and the Nile basin |
| Salt water | Salt glands; regularly swims in the open sea | Salt glands; occasionally coastal, mostly fresh water |
| Build | Broad head, very heavy body | Slightly slimmer for its length |
| Human deaths / year | Tens (fewer people share its range) | Estimated hundreds — the deadliest crocodilian |
| Nesting | Mound of vegetation in the wet season | Hole dug in a sandy bank; female guards it |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Saltwater Crocodile vs Nile Crocodile: common questions
Which crocodile is bigger?
The saltwater crocodile. It is the largest living reptile, with verified individuals close to 6 m and reliable reports a little beyond. A large Nile crocodile reaches about 5 m. Both are far larger than most people expect, and both keep growing slowly throughout life.
Which kills more people?
The Nile crocodile, by a wide margin — estimates run into the hundreds of fatal attacks a year across Africa, because it lives in the same rivers and lakes where huge numbers of people fish, wash, collect water, and herd livestock. The saltwater crocodile is at least as dangerous individually but encounters far fewer people.
Can a saltwater crocodile really live in the ocean?
Yes. It has salt-excreting glands on its tongue and can spend days or weeks at sea, riding surface currents to travel hundreds of kilometres between river systems and islands. This is how the species colonised so much of the Indo-Pacific, and why individuals sometimes turn up far outside their normal range.