Thursday, January 26, 2023

What is the heaviest recorded weight for a Nile crocodile?

A specimen shot just after the turn of the 20th century is the largest Nile crocodile considered authentic by the Guinness Book of World Records. This specimen, shot near Mwanza, Tanzania, measured 6.45 m (21’3”) in total length. It’s weight was calculated at 1090 kg (2,401 lb). Scarcely smaller, a specimen from Lake Victoria reportedly measured 6.1 m (20’2”) and weighed around 900 kg (2,000 lbj. Another very large specimen of Nile crocodile killed in 1968 in the Okavango Swamp, Botswana measured 5.87 m (19’4”) was found to have a head (including jaw tendons) alone that weighed 166 kg (366 lb). The piecemeal weight of this specimen was around 816 kg (1,799 lb) and it’s stomach contained 2 goats, half of a donkey and the clothed torso of a woman. Close to 20 specimens have been reported as exceeding 5.5 m (18’2”) with varying degrees of veracity in some cases.

A large Nile crocodile approached and handled on a cool day to limit risk of attach.

A specimen of Nile crocodile estimated to be a very large 5.5 m (18’2”) with a smaller Nile croc

Forced perspective was used with the large deceased crocodile posed considerably in front of this crowd to make it appear gargantuan. In actuality this specimen was not much over 5 m (16’6”).

Few specimens approaching this size are known in Nile crocodiles. Male crocodiles of the species are considered exceptional if they exceed 5–5.5 m (16’6”-18’2”) with few weighing over 590–700 kg (1,300–1,540 lb). An average adult male Nile crocodile may be close to 4 m (13’2”) with a corresponding weight of about 280 kg (620 lb), still a very formidable size and rendering them Africa’s largest continental predator.

A large but unexceptional Nile crocodile is hand-fed. / very risky endeavor with this ornery species.

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