Can a crocodile see well under water? Can the croc bite underwater? Can it survive the ocean's salt for long?

Question

I've heard of this show called "Animal Face-Off". It showed a salt-water crocodile encountering and eventually fighting a great white shark, while it was searching for food in the sea. The scenario was in open water. So i was wondering, if a crocodile can survive and actually fight under water.

Also, why would a croc be hunting in such water when it can't even swallow while submerge. I do know that the croc duz have a second see through eyelid...sorta like goggles. Not sure if it can fight a great white that well. However, i do know that in the past exist marine crocodiles. But unlike real crocs, the marine ones just trade in it's armor for speed.

Answer 1

These 'animal face-off' animations are not to be taken as being an accurate representation of the outcome of a fight between two animals. Although some degree of each animal's advantages and attributes are considered during the construction, it is purely conjecture. Also there is no way to know for sure if each construction is objective or subjective to any degree whatsoever. Furthermore (this being the case with shark v crocodile) such contests obviously must be shown in a viable scenario that each contestant can participate in. This requirement alone may potentially reduce the overall effectiveness and ability that that animal may otherwise have been able to demonstrate. Clearly this contest had to be set in water for obvious reasons ! That said Saltwater crocodiles do actually venture out in to open sea, so in this particular example the scenario is not adopted. (albeit it is highly unlikely that these two animals would EVER meet). Salties (as they are known in their native Australia) are very formidable and hugely powerful animals in or out of water. Their eyesight is excellent in or out of water, better than most sharks and much better than a Great white's. There is a minority of animals in or out of water that could defeat a Saltie and yes they certainly can bite, defend and conduct attacks themselves. In this contest however (I have not seen the animal face-off version) I think an adult female Great White (larger of the 2 sexes) would be too much for a Saltie. The shark's body shape and girth would make it very difficult for the croc to get any purchase with its jaws. Big and immensely powerful as a Saltie clearly is, a Great White is physically bigger, heavier and certainly even more powerful. Also the shark is a lot more agile and manoeuvrable in water and has stronger jaws than the croc, I would say the shark wins (Great White adult female that is).

Answer 2

Yes a crocodile can see under water because he has a clear inner eyelid that protects the eye but is transparent.

Yes they can bite under water but can't swallow. Normally the they bite and then thrash their prey to death, often they can tear a large animal in to pieces,

Most crocodiles are in fresh water. In Northern Australia they have salt water crocodiles that can and do swim out into the open ocean to hunt.

Programs like Animal Face-Off are highly speculative but a good way of talking about an animal's capabilities. It would be like asking who was the better general US Grant or Genghis Kan? There's no way to really compare but if you're a history buff it could give plenty to talk about.

Answer 3

Crocs can certainly bite underwater.  I've been bitten by submerged alligators myself.

They generally don't swallow in the water.

Crocodiles can, indeed, withstand salt water for prolonged periods.  They will also feed in salt water - this has been documented in the peer-reviewed literature.  Alligators are less capable of this.

The extinct "marine crocs" are actually very distantly related animals that are no longer classified as crocodylians (regardless of what some popular sources may say).