The saltwater crocodile is the longest living crocodilian, with typical adult males 4.0 to 5.2 m (13 to 17 ft) long. These are 16 living species of crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gharials, ranked by typical adult-male length.
Pictured: a still from BBC Earth’s “Saltwater Crocodile Protects Her Nest”, a female guarding her nest (so smaller than a typical male); the saltwater crocodile is #1, with typical adult males 4.0–5.2 m long.
Rank
Species
Typical adult male length (m)
Longest reliably recorded (m)
Typical adult male weight (kg)
Region
Habitat
IUCN status
1
Saltwater crocodile
4.0–5.2
6.17
410–770
South & Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Pacific islands
Salt and fresh water
Least Concern
2
Nile crocodile
3.5–5.0
6.1
225–750
Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar
Freshwater
Least Concern
3
Orinoco crocodile
3.6–4.8
5.2
450–700
Colombia, Venezuela
Freshwater
Critically Endangered
4
Gharial
3.7–4.6
6.0
~160
Northern India, Nepal
Freshwater
Critically Endangered
5
American alligator
3.4–4.6
4.5
200–450
Southeastern United States
Freshwater
Least Concern
6
Black caiman
3.5–4.0
5.0
~300–500
Amazon basin, South America
Freshwater
Least Concern
7
False gharial
3.6–3.9
5.0
190–210
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
Freshwater
Endangered
8
American crocodile
2.9–4.1
4.83
~100–400
Florida, Caribbean, Mexico to northern South America
Salt and fresh water
Vulnerable
9
Mugger crocodile
3.0–3.5
5.0
~195 (3 m male)
Indian subcontinent, Iran
Freshwater
Vulnerable
10
Morelet’s crocodile
2.5–3.0
3.0
~150 (3 m male)
Mexico, Belize, Guatemala
Freshwater
Least Concern
11
Freshwater crocodile
2.3–3.0
3.0
70–100
Northern Australia
Freshwater
Least Concern
12
Siamese crocodile
2.1–3.0
4.0
40–120
Southeast Asia
Freshwater
Critically Endangered
13
Cuban crocodile
2.1–2.3
3.5
70–80
Cuba
Salt and fresh water
Critically Endangered
14
Spectacled caiman
1.4–2.5
3.0
7–40
Central & South America
Freshwater
Least Concern
15
Chinese alligator
1.5–2.1
2.46
36–45
Yangtze basin, China
Freshwater
Critically Endangered
16
Dwarf crocodile
1.7–1.9
1.9
18–32
West & Central Africa
Freshwater
Vulnerable
No matching rows.
Read this first: this ranks the 16 species below by the typical length of a fully grown male, shown as the usual range, not by record-breaking individuals. Species are sorted by the midpoint of that range (ties go to the longer recorded animal). The ranges come from each species’ Wikipedia article and its cited literature, cross-checked against the Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan), National Geographic and, for the saltwater crocodile, Guinness World Records.[1][2] Where sources disagree, the range is drawn to cover what two or more of them support: the saltwater crocodile’s average male is 4.0–4.5 m in some studies and 5.2 m (17 ft) at National Geographic, and Guinness gives 4.6–5.2 m.[3] The gharial is the widest spread (National Geographic says 3.7–4.6 m; Wikipedia and the Animal Diversity Web say males reach 5–6 m), and the black caiman’s 3.5–4.0 m is for mid-sized mature males, with a few very old males over 5 m. For Cuban, freshwater, Siamese and Morelet’s crocodiles, and the Chinese alligator, spectacled caiman and dwarf crocodile, sources give a general adult range, not a male-only one, so the largest males sit at or above its top. “Longest reliably recorded” counts only measured or well-documented animals: Lolong, the captive saltwater crocodile measured at 6.17 m (the Guinness record holder), is counted, but 7 m saltwater claims, the 5.84 m (19 ft) Louisiana alligator, 6–7 m American and Orinoco crocodiles and 6.55 m gharials are unverified claims and are left out; the American crocodile figure is the longest of eight measured Costa Rican adults. A saltwater crocodile skin from Papua New Guinea (1979) was estimated at 6.3 m. Weights are typical adult-male ranges where given; “~” marks an estimate or single reported weight. Habitat “Salt and fresh water” means the species lives in brackish or marine waters as well as freshwater. IUCN status is from the IUCN Red List as quoted in each species’ Wikipedia article. Rankings by bite force are in Animals with the Strongest Bite Force, and heavyweight land predators in The Largest Land Carnivores.
The Top 10
#1
Saltwater crocodile — 4.0–5.2 m
The saltwater crocodile is the largest living reptile. Adult males are typically 4.0–5.2 m long (Wikipedia gives 4.0–4.5 m on average and up to 5 m as usual; National Geographic gives 5.2 m) and weigh roughly 410–770 kg. Lolong, a captive male in the Philippines, measured 6.17 m, the Guinness record, and a 1979 Papua New Guinea animal was estimated at 6.3 m; claims of 7 m or more are unverified. Females rarely pass 3 m. The video, from BBC Earth’s Deadly 60, shows a female guarding her nest.[1][3]
#2
Nile crocodile — 3.5–5.0 m
Africa’s largest predator on the river bank. Adult males are generally 3.5–5 m and 225–750 kg, and animals over 6.1 m and 1,000 kg have been recorded. National Geographic puts the average at about 16 ft (4.9 m). It lives in freshwater across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar and is listed Least Concern. The BBC Earth clip is from Wild Africa.[1][2]
#3
Orinoco crocodile — 3.6–4.8 m
Critically Endangered and found only in the Orinoco basin of Colombia and Venezuela. Mature males easily exceed 3.6 m and reach 4.1–4.8 m, probably weighing 450–700 kg. Historic reports of 6.8 m animals are unverified, and 5.2 m is the more widely accepted maximum. The video is from BBC Earth’s Deadly 60.[1]
#4
Gharial — 3.7–4.6 m
The gharial’s long, thin snout makes it one of the longest crocodilians; males also grow a bulb on the snout tip, the “ghara”. Sources vary: National Geographic gives a typical 12–15 ft (3.7–4.6 m), while Wikipedia says males reach 3–6 m and the Animal Diversity Web 5–6 m. The average adult male weighs about 160 kg, and the heaviest recorded male 977 kg; a claimed 6.55 m animal is unverified. It is Critically Endangered, now mainly in northern India and Nepal.[1][2][4]
#5
American alligator — 3.4–4.6 m
The largest alligator. Adult males are 3.4–4.8 m by Wikipedia and 10–15 ft (3.0–4.6 m) by National Geographic; the table uses 3.4–4.6 m. The longest verified animals are about 4.5 m and 459 kg; the famous 5.84 m Louisiana alligator of 1890 has no preserved specimen and is not counted. It lives in the southeastern United States and is Least Concern. The video is National Geographic’s on alligator mothers.[1][2]
#6
Black caiman — 3.5–4.0 m
The largest caiman and the biggest predator of the Amazon. Wikipedia puts mid-sized mature males at 3.5–4 m and about 300 kg, with a few very old males over 5 m and up to 750 kg. Maximum lengths of 5–6.5 m (and 6 m+ at the Animal Diversity Web) are reported, but the table counts only the 5 m that sources agree on. It is Least Concern after recovering from hunting. The video is from Nat Geo Kids.[1][2]
#7
False gharial — 3.6–3.9 m
A slender-snouted crocodile of Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo, listed Endangered. Captive mature males measured 3.6–3.9 m and 190–210 kg, and males can reach about 5 m (the Animal Diversity Web says 4–5 m). It has the longest skull of any living crocodilian, because of its snout. The Los Angeles Zoo video covers gharials and false gharials.[1][2]
#8
American crocodile — 2.9–4.1 m
Mature males average 2.9–4.1 m and up to about 400 kg, though some populations are larger: eight adults in Costa Rica measured 2.82–4.83 m. Reports of 6–7 m animals are unconfirmed. It lives in coastal and freshwater habitats from Florida to northern South America and is Vulnerable. The video is from the Central Florida Zoo.[1][2]
#9
Mugger crocodile — 3.0–3.5 m
The mugger, or marsh crocodile, of the Indian subcontinent. Males usually measure 3–3.5 m, and one 3 m male weighed 195 kg. Wikipedia says they rarely reach 5 m, though two killed in Sri Lanka were reported at 5.63 m; the Animal Diversity Web gives a 4–5 m maximum, so 5 m is used. It is Vulnerable. The clip is from BBC Earth’s Planet Earth III, filmed in Sri Lanka.[1][2]
#10
Morelet’s crocodile — 2.5–3.0 m
Found in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. Wikipedia says almost every Morelet’s crocodile over 2.5 m is male, and large males reach 3 m. Rare reports of 4.1–4.5 m animals are not counted. A large 3 m male is estimated at about 150 kg. It is Least Concern. No suitable video from an authoritative channel was found, so the icon is shown instead.[1]
Guinness World Records, Largest crocodilian species (living): the saltwater crocodile as the largest living crocodilian, its typical adult male length of 4.6–5.2 m, and Lolong’s 6.17 m. The Crocodile Specialist Group’s species list and the IUCN Red List are the underlying references for status and ranges; this post did not read them directly.
Videos: BBC Earth, National Geographic, Nat Geo Kids, Los Angeles Zoo, Central Florida Zoo and St. Augustine Alligator Farm on YouTube; each ID was checked for channel and title.
