How Fast Can a Crocodile Run?
Contents
Crocodiles are dangerous because they ambush prey from the water's edge, not because they are fast runners. On land, they tire quickly and rarely chase anything far. So how fast can a crocodile run?
The best measurements put a crocodile's top speed on land at about 18 km/h (11 mph), reached by small, galloping crocodiles. Most crocodiles, especially large ones, are slower, and none keep up their top speed for long.
Below, you'll find what limits a crocodile's speed, how far it can run, and whether a human can outrun one.
How Fast Can a Crocodile Run on Dry Land?
Crocodiles are semi-aquatic reptiles built for the water. On land, they can still put on a short burst of speed, so you shouldn't get close to one.
According to the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group, the maximum speed when galloping is about 18 km/h, and crocodiles become exhausted before covering 100 meters. Their normal "high walk" is only about 2 to 4 km/h.
How fast a crocodile can run depends on a few things.
The species of the crocodile
There are more than a dozen crocodile species across Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas. Only some of them gallop.
The Australian freshwater crocodile gallops almost every time it needs to move fast. A 2019 study in Scientific Reports filmed 15 crocodilian species and recorded galloping or bounding in 7 crocodile species, but never in alligators or caimans.
In that study, the fastest animal, an American crocodile, reached about 4.4 meters per second (about 10 mph). The researchers found that top speeds were similar across crocodiles and alligators.
The size of the crocodile
Size matters. The same study found that larger crocodilians move with relatively less athletic gaits, and athletic ability drops steeply as body size increases.
Smaller crocodiles gallop and bound more often, which helps them reach water quickly when threatened. Very large adults rely on ambush, not speed.
The terrain the crocodile is on
Terrain also affects how fast and how far a crocodile can run. A crocodile will run slowly on a rocky terrain compared to a flat land surface.
Galloping does help some crocodiles bound over rocks and logs on the way back to the water.
How Far Can Crocodiles Run?
Not far. Crocodiles tire quickly on land and must stop to rest. The IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group says they become totally exhausted before they have covered 100 meters.
When a crocodile runs on land, it is usually heading for the water to escape a threat, not chasing a person.
Can Humans Outrun a Crocodile?
Usually, yes. A fit adult running at full speed is faster than a crocodile's measured top speed of about 11 mph, and the crocodile can't keep going for long.
Some articles claim the average human speed may be insufficient to outrun large species like Nile crocodiles, but measured speeds don't support that. The real danger is the crocodile's lunge from the water's edge, which happens too fast to react to.
What to Do if a Crocodile is Chasing You?
Chases on land are rare. If a crocodile comes toward you, move away from the water quickly in a straight line and keep going.
The best protection is prevention. Stay well back from the water's edge in crocodile areas, follow local warning signs, and never feed or approach crocodiles.
Final Thought
Crocodiles are not fast runners. Their top measured speed on land is about 11 mph (18 km/h), smaller crocodiles are the quickest, and all of them tire before 100 meters. Their speed in a short lunge from the water is what makes them dangerous.
Sources
- Locomotion, IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group
- Divergent evolution of terrestrial locomotor abilities in extant Crocodylia, Scientific Reports (via PubMed Central)
