Which of these animals would “win” if they go head to head and which one has the
best changes to survive in general. These rounds will let you find out!
Round 1: Habitat
Where do they live? Beginning with the great white shark, these
aquatic creatures are pelagic fish. Meaning that they live close to the surface of the
ocean. In fact, they can be found in all coastal and offshore waters, which have a temperature
range between 54 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the greatest
concentration of these creatures can be found in the waters of the United States, South
Africa, Japan, Oceania, and Chile.
As for crocodiles, they are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics
of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Australia. The distribution varies depending on the species.
However, some of them, for example, the Borneo crocodile, are capable of surviving freshwater
environments such as rivers and streams, while some others, such as the saltwater crocodile,
prefer brackish environments like the ocean.
What are their relative populations? When it comes to population figures, great
white sharks are at a disadvantage since there are about 3,500 individuals left in the
wild waters of the United States. In Australia, the figure is about 10,000, and in South
Africa, there are less than 500. This figure is an estimate at best.
For crocodiles, the population figures depend on the exact species, and there are about 17
species. However, one of the largest species by population is the Freshwater Crocodile,
of which there are about 100,000 individuals. Other popular species like the Nile Crocodile
and Mexican Crocodile have population numbers upwards of 70,000 individuals.
Are these creatures endangered or not? The great white shark is most definitely endangered.
Their conservation status in most countries around the world is listed as vulnerable.
As for crocodiles, they are not under any threat and have a conservation status listed
as “least concern.”
How many of them are killed in a year? The exact numbers of great white sharks killed
in a year aren’t really known. However, over the years, their numbers have dwindled
due to relentless hunting by man. These creatures are thought to be relentless man-eaters. And
although they are responsible for some human deaths, man is far from their preferred meal.
But when it comes to all shark populations, about 100 million of them are killed every
year. This amounts to about 8% of their total population.
For crocodiles, about 1.5 million of them are killed every year. They are usually hunted
for their thick hides and their teeth. Sometimes, they are even hunted for their meat.
Who wins the round? Since crocodiles are way less endangered
than the great white shark, they win the round.
Round 2: Diet
What do these creatures eat? Great White Sharks are carnivorous Apex Predators.
This means there’s nothing above them on the food chain. They can eat anything, So
much so that their mouths and bellies have been compared to waste baskets. However, they
tend to content themselves with fish like tuna, rays, and other sharks, sea birds, dolphins
and whales, and seals and sea lions.
Crocodiles are carnivorous ambush predators. This means that they hide in wait while waiting
for suitable prey to cross their path. These creatures tend to eat other creatures like fish,
amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks, birds, reptiles, and mammals. They occasionally cannibalize
other smaller crocodiles too.
How much do these creatures need to eat? Great white sharks need to feed more often
than was frequently thought. They tend to eat about 60 pounds of food every three days.
This equates to about 22,000 pounds every year.
Like sharks, the crocodile’s food requirement depends on its size. Considering an average
size of 80 inches, though, the food requirement is about 5 pounds per week, which is about
260 pounds a year. This discrepancy between crocodiles and the great white shark makes
sense, as sharks are way larger than them. The great white shark can weigh between 1000 to
2400 pounds. Crocodiles weigh between 440 to 2200 pounds, depending on the species.
Is it easy for them to find food? The great white shark is an apex predator.
Which, as we mentioned earlier, means they have no natural predators. They are quite
potent hunters, and they have an easy time finding food. They also have a wide selection
of potential meals to pick from, ranging from squids to sea birds.
Crocodiles are very much the same. Not every
crocodile is an apex predator but the largest, the saltwater crocodile, is. In fact, the
saltwater crocodile is the largest land-loving apex predator. It also has a wide range of
meals to pick from and is a potent ambush predator.
So, Who wins the round? Since crocodiles can choose between aerial,
aquatic, and terrestrial food sources, they win the round. They also need to eat way less
than a shark does.
Round 3: Lifespan
How old can they get? The great white shark has one of the longest
lifespans in the animal kingdom. They can live up to 70 years old in the wild. Crocodiles
are able to match these figures, with the maximum age of most species occurring between 70
to 80 years old in the wild.
Who wins the round? Since crocodiles live just a couple of years
longer than the great white shark, the crocodiles win yet another round.
Round 4: Bigger Threat to Humans How do these creatures attack?
Great white sharks have a large number of mechanisms by which they ensure a successful
hunt. First off, let’s talk about the most obvious thing—their jaws. The jaws of a
great white shark are about 17 feet long and filled with sharp teeth. They can snap a person
clean in half. Sharks are also very potent swimmers. They can achieve speeds of up to 35
miles per hour to close great distances with prey. They have a bite force of 4000 PSI.
Water pressure that high can slice a human arm clean off.
Crocodiles are ambush predators. Which means they hide in place while waiting for unsuspecting
prey to cross their paths. Like sharks, they have powerful jaws with sharp teeth. They
also have acute senses which are so placed that they can hunt prey while they themselves
remain hidden beneath the surface of the water. They also move faster on water, as compared
to land. However, their speed isn’t used for pursuing prey. They prefer to hide while
the prey makes its way to them. Crocodiles have a bite force a little less than sharks,
coming in at 3700 PSI. This can crush an entire watermelon like a grape.
How many humans do they kill in a year? Crocodiles kill about a thousand humans every
year, worldwide. Crocodile attacks on humans are common in places where large crocodilians
are native, and human populations live.
Although they continue to happen, shark attacks on humans occur very rarely. At least, as
compared to crocodiles. For great white sharks, the exact figure is unknown. However, for
sharks in general, about 100 human kills occur worldwide each year.
Who wins the round? Since crocodiles attack way more humans
than sharks do every year, they win the round.
Round 5: What are these creatures hunted by?
Both crocodiles and sharks are apex predators. Which, as you may recall, means they are at
the top of the food chain and have no natural predators above them in the wild. However,
they can be attacked sometimes. Especially the smaller or younger types.
Humans are a plague on both of these creatures, hunting them relentlessly. But more specifically,
crocodiles sometimes fall prey to large felines and birds of prey. For great white sharks,
they sometimes get into spats with killer whales or orcas.
Who wins the round? Since the great white shark has the least
number of enemies and is a macropredator, it wins the round.
Round 6: Speed
How fast are they? As we mentioned earlier, sharks are very powerful
swimmers. They are capable of achieving speeds of 35 miles per hour underwater, chasing
and closing down prey from great distances. To help them swim better, they have a unique
ability to control their body temperature to conserve energy. They have a streamlined
appearance to reduce water resistance and derive most of their propulsion from their
tail fins.
Being ambush predators, crocodiles really don’t need to swim as fast as sharks. Nevertheless,
they can achieve speeds between 15 to 18 miles per hour in short bursts. This is around
three times as fast as the fastest human swimmers. Their main method of propulsion comes from
their thick and powerful tails. Interestingly, some crocodiles are as fast on land as they
are on the water, capable of achieving about the same speeds in their aquatic environments
as on land, if not even more.
Who wins this round? Since great white sharks are faster than
crocodiles are in the water, they win the round. A crocodile would not be able to get
away from a shark that decides to hunt it down.
Round 7: Special skills and Adaptations
Being at the top of the food chain, it takes a lot of adaptations and special skills to
make that happen. Beginning with the crocodile, let’s talk about camouflage. Crocodiles
are able to hide their bodies beneath the surface of the water while leaving only vital
sensory organs like the nose and eyes to look out for unsuspecting prey. The great white
shark is no slouch when it comes to camouflage either as it exhibits counter-shading, meaning
that it is difficult to detect from above or below since it blends into its environment
either way.
Next, great white sharks have a special apparatus known as the ampullae of Lorenzini, which
allows them to detect the electric currents generated by other creatures. This makes it
nearly impossible to get away from them.
Sharks are also great at resisting toxicity, especially from heavy metals. As for crocodiles,
they have very strong senses such as hearing and smell. These serve them well both in aquatic
and terrestrial habitats.
Who wins the round? Great white sharks win this round. Crocodiles
have a lot going for them, but the ability to detect electric currents of other creatures
is simply next level.
Verdict
So, to recap, crocodiles won the first four rounds dealing with habitats, diets, lifespan,
and threat to humans. However, the great white shark won the last three, which included animal
threats, speed, and special adaptations. Therefore, crocodiles win the match-up by a narrow margin.