Hippopotamuses and crocodiles are renowned for being two of the most dangerous creatures in all of Africa; both are arguably more dangerous than the lion. These creatures stalk the precious waters throughout sub-Saharan Africa, making every animal think twice before leaning down for a drink. So, it’s only fair to ask what would happen in a hippo vs crocodile fight. By creating a meaningful comparison of these two animals, we can determine which of them has the greatest advantages to help them in their fight against the other. What do we mean by a meaningful comparison? Well, we can’t just use random facts about the hippo and crocodile and say which one has the best chance of survival in a fight. Instead, we need to gather and compare key factors between the two creatures.

To that end, we have compiled a list of important physical features and behaviors that would impact the way the two animals battle. By comparing each, we’ll see which animal has the most advantages and thus the best chance to win the battle. The physical traits of a creature have a lot to do with its success as a fighter. So, when a hippo and a crocodile meet, we have to know several dimensions of their physical strengths and capabilities to determine which one has an edge. We are going to look at five areas of concern and see which creature is better suited to fight than the other. Crocodiles are very large reptiles, weighing up to 2,000 lbs and growing up to 20ft long. Although they are longer than hippos, they’re smaller than them overall. Hippos can weigh beyond 4,000 lbs, grow up to 16ft long, and stand 5ft tall. They’re massive compared to the crocodile! Crocodiles can move upwards of 22mph on land and 15mph in water; they’re very swift when they need to be, but they can’t maintain that pace for long. Hippos can reach 30mph in short bursts, but they can only move about 5mph in the water.