41 accounts with crocodile-shark interactions. It is interesting.
1. On 27 February 1938 newspaper The Sunday Morning Star (unknown author) describes report about fatal interaction between Crocodylus porosus (~300 cm TL) and unidentified (~210 cm TL) shark in Adelaide river near Darwin (Northen Australia). Shark was killed and dragged under water by crocodile.
The Sunday Morning Star - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
2. In Sundarbans Crocodylus porosus as wel as tigers (Panthera tigris) are known to take from water and killing adult Carcharhinus leucas.
(Sanyal, pers. comm.)
3. Book "Surveys of Tidal River Systems in the Northern Territory of Australia and Their Crocodile Populations" by Pergamon Press (1981) reports predation by large (>330 cm TL) Crocodylus porosus on Carcharhinus leucas (150-180 cm TL). Detailed description is given:
"At 14:05 hrs (90 minutes after high tide) on September 20, 1977, a crocodile >11' in length was observed floating downstream past the anchored vessel at km 32. The crocodile's movements were observed with the help of binoculars. After passing the vessel, the crocodile's head was observed to go quickly underwater and come up with a 3-4' shark (probably a freshwater whaler). The crocodile then submerged its head with the shark in its mouth, but its back remained visibly arched out of the water."
Surveys of Tidal River Systems in the Northern Territory of Australia and Their Crocodile Populations. — Pergamon Press, 1981. — 472 p. — ISBN 9780080248196.
4. G. D. Flinter reports about interaction in 1817 between ~2.4 m "alligator" (most likely Crocodylus acutus) and large unidentified shark in book that was published in 1919. Crocodile prevailed in a fight that was not brought to an end.
George Dawson Flinter. A History of the Revolution of Carácas: Comprising an Impartial Narrative of the Atrocities Committed by the Contending Parties, Illustrating the Real State of the Contest ... Together with a Descriptive of the Llaneros...— T. & J. Allman, 1819. — 234 p.
5. Global Grapevine (unknown data) in Printest posted material with possible predation event by Crocodylus porosus (unknown size) on large (~460 cm TL) Galeocerdo cuvier:
"This was the remains of a 15 foot Tiger shark; it seems that it had provided breakfast for one rather hungry saltwater crocodile! But it was too much even for that bad boy! The staff at Yellow Waters had never known a crocodile attack a shark before..."
Provided photo requires further study.
Australian bitey things! Pinterest.
6. Messel (1984) report that 1,2-1,5 m Crocodylus johnstoni was found in the stomach of large (490 cm TL) Carcharodon carcharias.
Harry Messel. Population Dynamics of Crocodylus Porosus and Status, Management and Recovery: Update 1979-1983. — Pergamon Press, 1984. — 308 p. — ISBN 9780080298580.
7. G. L. Wood in 1982 reports about anecdotal fight between very large (~550 cm TL) Carcharodon carcharias and very large (~600 cm TL) Crocodylus porosus. Crocodile won in fierce battle with biting off a shark's head.
Message comes from 1939 and possibly personal observation, because text is not provided in "The Guinness Book of Animal Facts and Feats" at least 1972 and 1983 publications contrary to the references of some sources.
(e.g. Stuebing pers. comm.)
8. A. C. Pooley reports about predation by Crocodylus niloticus on Carcharhinus leucas.
Whitfield and Blaber (1979) write:
"Crocodiles at St. Lucia have been recorded feeding on the following fish species: riverbream (Acanthopagrus berda), kob (Argyrosomus hololepidotus), sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus), striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), pike conger (Muraenesox bagio), spotted grunter (Pomadasys commersonni), Zambezi shark (Carcharhinus leucas) and lesser guitarfish (Rhinobatus annulatus) (Dunsterville, 1968; A. C. Pooley, pers. comm.)."
Whitfield, A.K. and S.J.M. Blaber, 1979. "Predation on striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) by Crocodylus niloticus at St. Lucia, South Africa".
9. The following observation, which also reported by Pooley (pers. comm.), describes successful attack by adult (~370 cm TL, originally reported as "young") Crocodylus niloticus on large (~300 cm TL) Carcharhinus leucas. This incident also casually mentions Cott (1961) as “fight between a crocodile and a shark was once witnessed in mouth of the estuary”.
10. Nifong (2017) describes predation by Alligator mississippiensis on Ginglymostoma cirratum, Sphyrna tiburo and Negaprion brevirostris.
Author give the following accounts:
"Specifically, on 21 June 1997 during sea turtle nesting surveys along the oceanfront beaches (>25 ppt) of Wassaw Island, an adult American Alligator (~250 cm TL, sex unknown) was observed attacking and consuming a Bonnethead Shark. Later, on 7 July 1999, the same researcher observed a subadult (~160 cm TL) American Alligator capture and consume a juvenile Lemon Shark in the surf zone. No photographs were obtained. On 2 August 2003, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff member observed and photographed an American Alligator (~250 cm TL) capturing, manipulating, and consuming a Nurse Shark (~100 cm TL) (Fig. 2) in an estuarine (10–35 ppt) mangrove swamp (26.471047°N, 82.151627°W; Fig. 1) within the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, FL. On 19 September 2006 at 1528, a naturalist (J. Cooke, St. Marks, FL) while viewing foraging wading birds, observed and photographed an adult American Alligator, presumably male based on body size (~300 cm TL), capture, manipulate, and consume an adult Bonnethead Shark (Fig. 3) in a tidal salt marsh (15–35 ppt) of St. Marks, FL (30.156747°N, 84.219081°W; Fig. 1). The observer documented the event through a series of 12 photographs".
Said author allo recalls several historical accounts with interaction between Alligator mississippiensis and sharks.
James Nifong (2017), "Reciprocal Intraguild Predation between Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) and Elasmobranchii in the Southeastern United States".
11. One account was published in 1888 (unknown publisher and unknown author) in an article entitled “Sharks and Alligators: Furious duel on the coast of Florida”, which describes clash between 5 or 6 A. mississippiensis (the largest reported to be 465 cm TL, was likely an exaggeration) and a comparable number of sharks (size and species not reported) in the tidal Indian River (Florida). During the altercation several of the sharks as well as alligators suffered mortal injuries. Furthermore, the author(s) of this article report interactions such as this were commonly observed during this period.
12. On 14 May 1884 the periodical The Palatka Daily News published an account (unknown author) describing a agressively contest between a shark (~300 cm TL, species not reported) and a A. mississippiensis (~210 cm TL) at East Pass near Pilot Cove (Florida). Described therein, following some attempts by the shark without good resistance attempts by alligator, a mortal bite was delivered to the thoracic region and tore alligator in half.
Kevin M. McCarthy. Alligator Tales. — Pineapple Press Inc, 1998. — 186 p. — ISBN 9781561641581.
13. On 5 October 1877 the sports magazine The Fishing Gazette published an article entitled “Alligator and Shark Fight”, recounting the observations of skirmish between American Alligators and sharks (unknown species) in a tidal inlet near Jupiter, Florida. The observers claim a large number of American Alligators (~500 individuals) congregated within a bight in the inlet to take advantage of schools of fish trapped there by a strong flood tide (Alligators and ... 1877). A few days following this feeding aggregation, the combination of a strong northwest wind and high tidecaused the water and the engorged American Alligators trapped in the bight to flow out into the main channel of the inlet. It was said that in the inlet a mass school of sharks (hundreds) had congregated, likely drawn by the smell of blood and the feeding activities of the Alligators. Once in the inlet, the Alligators were attacked by the awaiting sharks. Quoting from an eyewitness statement “…sharks and alligators rise on the crest of the waves and fight like dogs”. In the days following the skirmish, carried by strong currents, numerous carcasses of both American Alligators and sharks were reported to have washed ashore along beaches extending to Cape Malabar (nearly 130 km to the north). Counting bodies on the beach indicated that score was in favor of alligators.
14. Minton (publishing by Scribner, 1973) mentions that remains of shark (species not mentioned) was found in the stomach of Crocodylus porosus.
Minton, Madge Rutherford Minton. Giant reptiles. — Scribner, 1973. — 388 p. — ISBN 9780684145587.
15. Russian journal "Вокруг света" in 1982 published observation of aggressive interaction between ~15 crocodiles (possibly Crocodylus niloticus) and 5-6 "sand sharks" (possibly Carcharias taurus or Carcharhinus plumbeus) without the result data.
Бой в устье | Публикации | Вокруг Света.
www.vokrugsveta.ru.
16. Perissinotto et al. (2013) mention Carcharias taurus and Carcharinus leucas as prey item in diet of Crocodylus niloticus in lake St Lucia (South Africa).
Renzo Perissinotto, Derek D. Stretch, Ricky H. Taylor. Ecology and Conservation of Estuarine Ecosystems: Lake St Lucia as a Global Model. — Cambridge University Press, 2013-05-16. — 515 p. — ISBN 9781107354999.
17. A. Mitra and S. Zaman (2014) as a G. Karleskint, R. Turner and J. Small (2012) report that Crocodylus porosus sometimes prey on sharks that "close to their own size", but this claim was not substantiated with data or links.
Abhijit Mitra, Sufia Zaman. Blue Carbon Reservoir of the Blue Planet. — Springer, 2014-11-20. — 306 p. — ISBN 9788132221074.
George Karleskint, Richard Turner, James Small. Introduction to Marine Biology. — Cengage Learning, 2012-04-26. — 575 p. — ISBN 1285402227.
18. On 17 October 1936 newspaper The Age (unknown author) described attack by a large Crocodylus porosus on a hooked shark (body size and species not reported, but the average weight of caught sharks was ~100 kg).
The Age - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
19. N. Caldwell and N. Ellison (1936) described a brutal battle between Crocodylus porosus (size unkown) and very large Carcharinus leucas (body weight 453 kg). Crocodile came out the winner, after pulled the shark to shore. Detailed description is given:
"They fought for front rank as they crept over the mud and waited. Foot by foot the crocodile worked its way backwards. How it managed to drag approximately nine hundred pounds' weight of shark through the soft oozy mud I cannot tell. But it did. I saw the last gasping struggle made by the whaler as it was hauled from the water ; heard the last snapping of jaws. Then silence. The crocodile had won the unequal struggle. But its grip on the tail did not relax until the body of the captive had stiffened. There had been a foul, a complete ugliness about the fight, if such it could be called. And now, spoils to the victor! Spoils then and there going down his great gullet. I have been told that a crocodile buries its food before eating it. This one did not. It ate and ate and ate. At daybreak, I sculled to the scene. The remains of the shark had been buried in the thick evil-smelling mud. It had been a very hungry crocodile — from the tail well up forward of the dorsal fin had been eaten."
Norman W. Caldwell, Norman Ellison. Fangs of the Sea. — Angus & Robertson, 1936. — 208 p.
20. On the Townsville beach was observed Crocodylus porosus (size unkown) that feeding on Galeocerdo cuvier (size unkown) carcass. It is not known, does this account demonstrate predation or scavenging.
(Deleted source -
21. On 2 April 1938 newspaper The Telegraph (unknown author) describes fight between Crocodylus niloticus madagascariensis (body size unknown) and shark (body size and species not reported) nearshore of Madagascar. The shark, as reported, tore the crocodile tail, but the crocodile was caught by sailors and the battle was not brought to an end.
The Telegraph - Google News Archive Search. news.google.com.
22. In India unknown local newspaper (and unknown author) in 1875 published article which describes aggressive interactions that was observed by "some famous naturalist". This observation describes as crocodile (most likely Crocodylus palustris) fought with several similar-sized sharks (most likely Carcharinus leucas) over cow carcass in the lower reaches of Ganges. Final result unkown, becouse carcass was carried away by the river. But is claimed that crocodile suddenly rushed to sharks that approaching too close, biting and pushed predatory fishes away. At least three sharks were seriously injured and probably died (मगरमच्छ ... शार्क).
(Sankhala, pers. comm.)
23. In July 1962 in book by Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department described that stomatch of the large (~430 cm TL) Galeocerdo cuvier, that caught off the coast of Durban, South Africa, contained the head and forequartes of a crocodile (were likely Crocodylus niloticus, SKL 40–45 cm, possible TL ~283–~319 cm using head-body ratio from Warner et al., 2015) along with the hind limbs of a Ovis aries, 3 seagulls (undetined taxa), 2 cans of peas, and a cigarette tin. It is not known, does this account demonstrate predation or scavenging.
Louisiana Conservationist. — Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department, 1961. — 486 p.
24. Same source reports about Galeocerdo cuvier (~300 cm TL) that was captured somewhere off the coast of Indonesia with an entire crocodile (were likely Crocodylus porosus, ~200 cm TL) in its stomach (originally message “Hiu menelan seekor buaya”). Also it is not known, does this account demonstrate predation or scavenging.
25. Price (1877) described an fatal altercation between what were likely Caiman crocodilus and several sharks (unidentified species) in Manzanilla, Mexico. Heavy rains had displaced a number of caimans from a coastal freshwater lake into a tidal river. Once in the river, the caiman were reportedly immediately attacked by sharks. Violent battle was said to last all day and all spectacled caimans involved in the skirmish was killed. The loss of sharks unknown.
(Nifong, pers. comm., and also in his papper)
26. Somaweera et al. (2013) reported that hatchling and juvenile Crocodylus porosus and Crocodylus johnstoni inhabting tidal rivers in northern Australia are consumed by Carcharhinus taurus, Carcharhinus amboinensis and Glyphis spp (G. Allen, pers. comm.).
Somaweera, R., M. Brien, and R. Shine. 2013. The role of predation in shaping crocodilian natural history. Herpetological Monographs 27:23–51
27. These authors also mention predation by Carcharodon carcharias on adult Crocodylus acutus in Fuerte island, Colombia, referring to Medem (1981). But Medem (1981) reports only about one C. acutus individual ( 230 cm TL) that was possibly killed by a shark (not necessary C. carcharia) or another predator (e.g. Panthera onca), and mentions reports of locals about attacks by C. carcharias on C. acutus (unknown age, size and gender) with unknown results.
Medem, F. 1981. Los Crocodylia de Sur America, Volume 1: Los Crocodylia de Colombia. Colciencias, Bogotá, Colombia. 354 pp.
28. Webb and Messel (1977) attributed numerous tail amputations observed in hatchling Crocodylus porosus to possible shark attacks.
Webb, G.J.W., and H. Messel. 1977. Abnormalities and injuries in the estuarine crocodile, Crocodylus porosus. Australian Wildlife Research 4:311–319.
29. Nelson (2013) reported photographs and video detailing the discovery of the head of a Crocodylus niloticus (~350 cm TL) on a beach in St. Lucia, South Africa. Some peoples speculate that very large (~600 cm TL) Carcharodon carcharias could have delivered mortal bite.
Nelson, S.C. 2013. Was giant crocodile killed by huge shark? Head washes up on South African beach.
30. Cott (1961) reported the stomach contents of single individual Crocodylus niloticus (unknown body size) out of 32 individuals sampled from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, contained the remains of 2 unidentified shark species.
Cott, H.B. 1961. Scientific results of an enquiry into the ecology and economic status of the Nile Crocodile ( Crocodylus noloticus ) in Uganda and Northern Rhodesia. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 29:211–356.
31. Sydney photographer Andrew Paice saw very large (~550 cm TL) Crocodylus porosus with a juvenile Carcharhinus leucas (~150 cm TL) clenched between its jaws.
Keartes, S. 2014. Three-legged crocodile nabs shark in Australia river.
32. Author and journalist Peter Hancock relates one story of a "Megalania" (in fact, almost certainly Crocodylus porosus, size unknown) that wandered into the ocean and attacked by Carcharodon carcharias (size unknown). The "Megalania" kills the shark and drags it to shore.
A MonsterQuest Look at Real Dragons. MonsterQuest Review.
33. At Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory large (~500 cm TL) Crocodylus porosus been photographed with freshly caught and bitten into two pieces large (~300 cm TL) Carcharhinus leucas in jaws.
Hainke, N. 2010. Monster crocodile gobbles up a shark in Kakadu National Park.
34. Holidaymaker Peter Jones witnessed and take two photos as large (~500 cm) Crocodylus porosus catch a Carcharhinus leucas (~200-250 cm TL) in Kakadu National Park in Northern Territory, Australia.
Gayle, D. 2013. Which is toughest... shark or crocodile? Finally we have an answer, as croc eats its fishy rival.
35. Many other photos show how Crocodylus porosus catch a smaller sharks. For example, Indrek Urvet in Daly River (Northern Territory) watched as C. porosus (~400 cm TL) catch small juvenile Carcharhinus leucas (News of the underwater world News Service - August 13, 2007 17:08 EST. No Bull: Saltwater Crocodile Eats Shark.
36. Near Mexico coast crocodile (most likely Crocodylus acutus, 250 cm TL) was harassed by “large” (size unknown) Isurus oxyrinchus. Shark inflicted several powerful bites, but crocodile continued swim with pelican carcass (Pelecanus sp.). In final, second shark (species and body size unknown; but possible I. oxyrinchus) steal prey from C. acutus, when crocodile opened mouth to protect himself from aggressive I. oxyrinchus.
(Silva, pers. comm.)
37. A 2017 documentary move "Shark-Croc Showdown" by Discovery Channel demonstrate video fragments with interaction between Crocodylus porosus individuals with simular-sized sharks (Carcharhinus spp, Negaprion acutidens, Nebrius ferrugineus). In all cases crocodiles prevailed over sharks but did not kill.
Shark-Croc Showdown|Shark Week. Discovery - Official Site.
38. In these documentary also provides information that 10% of Glyphis glyphis, Carcharhinus leucas as well as other freshwater elasmobrachians individuals have bite marks from crocodile (Crocodylus porosus and perhaps C. johnstoni) attacks.
39. C. Tricas and H. Gruber (link to Rasmussen and Schmidt) report that Negaprion brevirostris avoid smell of excreted by Crocodylus acutus chemical secretions, but not Alligator mississippiensis. C. acutus is a known predator of sharks and this is interpreted as reason of chemically aware.
Timothy C. Tricas, Samuel H. Gruber. The behavior and sensory biology of elasmobranch fishes: an anthology in memory of Donald Richard Nelson. — Springer Science & Business Media, 2013-06-29. — 596 p. — ISBN 9789401732451.
L. E. L. Rasmussen, Michael J. Schmidt Are Sharks Chemically Aware of Crocodiles? — Springer, Boston, MA, 1992. — p. 335–342. — ISBN 9781475796575, 9781475796551. — DOI:10.1007/978-1-4757-9655-1_53.
40. Similar behavior was observed in Carcharhinus leucas in 2016 documentary move "Jungle Shark" by Discovery Channel. Even large adult C. leucas (250–300 cm TL) avoid smell of chemical secretions excreted by Crocodylus acutus (taken from ~300 cm TL individual).
Jungle Shark|Shark Week. Discovery - Official Site.
41. On 30 July 2017 a pair of filmmakers (Christian Kennedy and Jadranko Silic) on a fishing charter boat off Western Australia captured footage when Crocodylus porosus (~200 cm TL) attacking and killing shark (Carcharhinus sp.,~150 cm TL) with one bite in the head.
Hooper B. 2017. Clever crocodile catches shark behind Australian fishing boat.
www.quora.com/I-have-heard-that-there-are-some-estuaries-in-India-where-salt-water-crocodiles-fight-with-sharks-Who-generally-wins-these-encounters Credits to: onlyfaizy786
