The African waterways are by no means tranquil environments. Most animals which dare to approach the water’s edge put their lives at risk, as these waters are home to one of Africa’s most formidable predators, the deadly Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). With powerful jaws which can slam shut with incredible pressure and strong teeth designed to crush bone, these large predators rarely let go once they clamp their jaws around a target.
The large reptiles are capable of delivering crushing bites consisting of more than 3000 lbs of force per square inch, by far the most powerful bites in the animal kingdom.
This allows them to shatter bones and crush the shells of animals such as turtles.
The combination of stealth and brute force allows the crocodile to prey on a wide variety of creatures, including zebras, warthogs, wildebeest, antelope, and even humans.
Believe it or not, the Hippo, despite its appearance, is much more dangerous than a crocodile. In fact, hippos are responsible for more human deaths each year than crocodiles, lions, and other predators.
Although the hippo’s jaws do not possess as much power as a crocodile’s jaws, they are still capable of biting down with great strength with their razor-sharp ivory tusks.
After the elephant and the white rhinoceros, the hippo is the third largest land mammal,capable of growing up to 14 feet in length and weighing up to 4 tons.
This massive mammal is easily capable of overpowering and killing even large Nile crocodiles, thus keeping its calf safe from the deadly reptiles.
Source and Credits: Cendan Luis - Vertebrate journal