American alligator vs Saltwater crocodile
American alligator vs saltwater crocodile
Saltwater crocodile is larger on weight
Saltwater crocodile is 2.2× American alligator on weight.
An American alligator and a saltwater crocodile can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.
Side by side
| American alligator | Saltwater crocodile | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 70–500 kg | 76–1,300 kg |
| Length | 2.6–4.6 m | 2.5–6.3 m |
| Typical lifespan | 35–70 yr | 65–100 yr |
| Bite force | 1,000–2,980 psi | 3,700 psi |
What the numbers say
- Saltwater crocodile is 2.2× American alligator on weight.
- Saltwater crocodile is somewhat greater than American alligator on length — about 1.3×.
- Saltwater crocodile is somewhat greater than American alligator on typical lifespan — about 1.4×.
- Saltwater crocodile is 1.7× American alligator on bite force.
Weight compared.
Saltwater crocodile 76–1,300 kg
American alligator 70–500 kg
American alligator
A broad-snouted crocodilian of the US Southeast, recovered from near-extinction to over a million animals.
Saltwater crocodile
The largest living reptile and the animal with the hardest bite ever measured.
This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.
Common questions
- Which is bigger, American alligator or saltwater crocodile?
- Saltwater crocodile is 2.2× American alligator on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
- How do American alligators and saltwater crocodiles compare on length?
- American alligator: 2.6–4.6 m. Saltwater crocodile: 2.5–6.3 m. Saltwater crocodile is somewhat greater than American alligator on length — about 1.3×.
- How do American alligators and saltwater crocodiles compare on typical lifespan?
- American alligator: 35–70 yr. Saltwater crocodile: 65–100 yr. Saltwater crocodile is somewhat greater than American alligator on typical lifespan — about 1.4×.
Related pages
Sources
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place