# What Do Nile Crocodiles Eat?

> What nile crocodiles eat: Carnivore, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

- **Species:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** Rivers, lakes, and wetlands
- **Lifespan:** 70–100 years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nile-crocodile/what-do-nile-crocodile-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nile-crocodile/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is Africa's largest crocodilian and one of the continent's most formidable predators, living in rivers, lakes, and wetlands across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Large adults reach up to 5 m (16 ft) and can weigh up to about 750 kg (1,650 lb), ambushing prey with an explosive lunge and one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom. These long-lived reptiles can survive 70 to 100 years. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Size and physical power

The Nile crocodile is the largest freshwater predator in Africa, with big males reaching up to 5 m (16 ft) in length and weighing up to about 750 kg (1,650 lb). Its body is built around ambush and power: a heavily armoured back, a muscular tail that drives it through water, and jaws that deliver one of the strongest measured bites of any living animal. The eyes, ears, and nostrils sit on top of the head, letting the crocodile watch and breathe while almost fully submerged. Conical teeth grip rather than chew, holding struggling prey fast.

## Help protect the Nile Crocodile

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/nile-crocodile/what-do-nile-crocodile-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.