Crocodiles, with their massive bodies, lie motionless like statues, but in reality, they are just waiting to unleash an incredibly fast strike.
A video shared from a zoo in Thailand shows a terrifying scene where a chicken, either lost or released, wanders into a crocodile enclosure. Inside, about twenty crocodiles lie still, their mouths agape as they wait for prey to pass by.
The chicken seems to be aware of the lurking danger, constantly turning its head and taking cautious steps. On the opposite side, the crocodiles are equally patient, showing no immediate reflexes, silently waiting for an opening, resembling a true battle of wits.
As the chicken cautiously approaches, one crocodile suddenly turns its head toward it and launches a lightning-fast strike. However, this swift attack misses its target, as the chicken quickly leaps aside to avoid it.
But when the crocodile attempts to “correct its mistake” with a follow-up bite, the chicken cannot react in time and ends up caught in the predator’s jagged jaws. The crocodile swiftly retreats to a nearby crevice to enjoy its meal.
Rather than chase their prey, crocodiles typically ambush and then suddenly strike with a “thunderous” bite.
Crocodiles belong to the subfamily Crocodylinae, which is divided into various genera such as the alligator, the short-snouted crocodile, and the Caiman. A common characteristic of all crocodile species is their preference for aquatic environments, particularly in slow-moving rivers and lakes.
Despite their heavy bodies, thick armored skin, and short legs, which may create an impression of sluggishness, crocodiles are actually very agile over short distances, even in muddy or waterlogged surroundings.
They are ambush predators, waiting for fish or terrestrial animals to come close before launching a swift attack—typically using their powerful jaws and sharp teeth to tear flesh.
After delivering their thunderous bite, crocodiles drag their prey down into the river or swamp to drown them. Then, to tear apart their meal, they grip the flesh tightly and roll multiple times to dislodge it.
The Nile crocodile, also known as the African crocodile, is one of the species with the strongest bite force on our planet, capable of exerting up to 2.6 tons per square centimeter (or 2.6 million kilograms per square meter). Estimates suggest that the bite force of the crocodile is only slightly less than that of the great white shark.
However, the crocodile’s formidable jaws have a weakness; they are very difficult to open if they are clamped shut. Therefore, some stories from survivors of encounters with the long-snouted Nile crocodile recount how they managed to use their arms to keep the jaws closed, then wrapped around the crocodile’s body to exhaust it.
