7 Crocodilian Species That Are Dangerous to Humans

The black caiman resides in northern South America and can be found over much of the Amazon River basin from Peru and Ecuador eastward to Guyana and Suriname. Black caimans have a broad diet, feeding on fish and other reptiles as well as rodents such as the capybara (which can grow as large as 4 feet [1.25 meters] long). Adult male black caimans often grow longer than 13 feet (about 4 meters); larger specimens have been known to attack people. The Worldwide Crocodilian Attack Database (CrocBITE), which is associated with Australia’s Charles Darwin University, notes that between January 2008 and October 2013, black caimans were involved in 43 attacks on people, and fewer than one-fifth of those were fatal.

The mugger, or marsh, crocodile can be found in freshwater pools, wetlands, lakes, and slow-moving streams from Iran to the western fringes of Southeast Asia. It is easily recognized by its wide flat snout. Among the largest crocodile species in terms of physical size, muggers can grow to 13 to 16.5 feet (about 4 to 5 meters) as adults. Although they tend to feed on fish and reptiles, some have fed on larger prey, such as deer. According to CrocBITE, muggers attacked 110 people between 2008 and 2013, with approximately one-third of those attacks resulting in the death of the victims.

The American crocodile, also called the Central American alligator, inhabits a wide range of aquatic habitats from southern Florida and Mexico south through the Caribbean islands and Central America to northern South America. It is no stranger to saline environments, having been observed in estuaries filled with brackish water. Adult males grow to approximately 16.5 feet (about 5 meters) in length. American crocodiles prefer smaller vertebrates as prey, but reports of attacks on people are not uncommon. CrocBITE notes that 90 people were attacked between 2008 and 2013, which resulted in approximately 20 deaths.

The gharial, or gavial, inhabits the rivers of northern India and Nepal. It is distinguished by its long and very slender sharp-toothed jaws, which it sweeps sideways in order to catch fish, its main prey. The gharial normally attains a length of about 12 to 15 feet (3.7 to 4.6 meters). It does not attack humans but apparently does feed on corpses set afloat in funeral ceremonies on the Ganges River.

American alligators (or “gators”) are native to the Gulf Coast region of the United States and can be found in freshwater environments ranging from lakes and streams to swamps, marshes, and other wetlands; however, some have been observed in saltier habitats such as mangrove swamps. Most alligators are smaller than their crocodile cousins, with adult males generally growing to between 13 and 15 feet (4 and 4.5 meters). Between 2000 and 2007, alligator attacks averaged just under 11 per year in Florida, though deaths from those attacks were less than 10%. Between 1948 and 2005, wildlife officials documented 379 alligator attacks on people, which resulted in 17 deaths. Interestingly, they also noted that most of those events did not seem to start with the alligator but rather began with people attempting to pick up, capture, or otherwise handle the animal.

The saltwater crocodile (also called the estuarian crocodile, or “Saltie”) lives primarily in Southeast Asia, from southern India through Australia’s northern fringe. Despite their name, saltwater crocodiles are not exclusive to saltwater habitats; they are also found in brackish waters and freshwater streams and swamps. Fully grown adult males can reach more than 20 feet (about 6 meters) in length and weigh more than 1,100 pounds (roughly 500 kg). Considering only the records kept by Australia and Malaysia, the IUCN reports that between 2000 and 2007, saltwater crocodiles were responsible for nearly 30 separate attacks on people. In Australia a quarter of those attacks were fatal; in Malaysia half of the attacks resulted in the victim’s death.

With a geographic home range spanning most of Africa, save the Sahara, and part of Madagascar, the Nile crocodile is at home in various habitats made up of freshwater lakes and streams and brackish waters. Although adults vary in size, most grow to reach 16.5 to almost 20 feet (roughly 5 to 6 meters) in length. The species easily claims the title of the most-dangerous crocodilian, since it is widely thought to be responsible for more than 300 attacks on people per year.