Gator.. or crocodile… catches wild hog

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Gator ith hog 

There is a lot of controversy about whether this is an alligator or crocodile and where the picture was taken. 

While dining with Sonya and Jeff the other night I heard about this picture.  “That Gene dude” sent the pic to me this morning with the text that it was taken recently here in Florida (actually very close to where I am now).   A little research tells us it dates back to 2006 at least.  Some say it was taken in Africa.  We may never know because many people claim to be experts and know the source of the picture.  Whatever it is, you have to admit it’s very interesting.

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32 thoughts on “Gator.. or crocodile… catches wild hog”

  2. Gator or Croc, who knows?…What concerns me, it’s…it’s a reptile eating a mammal (gulp). Aren’t we mammals?

  8. Easy answer: Look at those hills in the background. That’s NOT Florida.

    I live near Lake Okeechobee and can snap you a photo of a 12-foot gator or a baby wild boar any time you want. Wouldn’t be too surprised to see a gator take off with one like that.

    But I’d bet good money that this particular photo is not from the Sunshine State…

  10. For one – not a controversy at all what the ID is concerned. Definitely a crocodile and not a gator. Patterns, Snout and Head are clearly that of a croc. TimO should know that if he really is familiar with Gators. I photograph wildlife for many years – and while what you see fits crocodilian prey – it sure is not something that you can find any time you want. Where it was shot however is a question. It could be Florida – there are hills in Lake and Polk Counties – up to 600 ft high. However the American Crocodile is unlikely to be found north of Lake Okeechobee – which increases the likelihood, that this shot was not taken in the States.

  11. Fortunately for me I live in a country where in order for an indigenous animal to be dangerous to your health you either have to drop it on someone from a great height or choke on it.** So, can anyone enlighten me on what the difference is between a croc and a gator (and why it’s important)?

    **Mind you, cows seem to have taken a turn for the belligerent round here lately, particularly if they see you with a dog.

  13. I’m no expert but this is what I’ve heard: an alligator’s lower jaw is slightly smaller than its upper jaw, so its lower teeth are hidden when it closes its mouth, it also has a rounded snout. Crocodiles have jaws that are roughly equal in size, so their upper and lower teeth interlock when they shut their mouths which makes for a toothier grin. They also have a pointed v-shaped snout.
    In this photo, it’s pretty hard to distinguish the teeth or snout, however I was under the impression both these animals hunt in the water and the first thing do when they sink their teeth into a meal is swim to the bottom of whatever body of water they’re in and drown the prey, then they eat it. I would be willing to bet that this picture is photo shopped. These creatures don’t walk around with dead animals in their mouth

  14. I have to agree with everyone else, that is a croc not a gator. (I should have looked beyond the pig before) Also since you can see hills in the background, it is most definitely not taken from around here. Outside of a few ant hills, SWF does not have hills.

  15. Klaus,
    Britton Hill, at 345 feet, is the highest point in FL. It’s just east of the hamlet of Paxton, in Walton county, on the Florida/Alabama state line. While Lake county, just north of Orlando, and Polk county, east of Tampa, have their hills, none of them top the majestic reaches Britton Hill near the Redneck Riviera. Geography lesson is over.

  17. Maffu – as Bill described (as well as Klaus), there are differences between crocodiles and alligators. These two critters, along with caimans and gharials, are part of the crocodilian family. Caimans tend to be smaller than alligators and crocodiles with a longer and slender snout; gharials look even freakier as they have what looks like too many teeth for their long, slender snout.

    Alligators live in the US and China (I do not believe they live anywhere else); crocodiles live in a much wider area–North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Caimans are mainly in South America, and gharials are in Asia and I believe in South America. (if you want real nightmares, look up the saltwater crocodiles of Australia that get about 23 feet long).

    Curiously, the only place that alligators and crocodiles live in the same place is in Florida. Crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators, but I would not want to get too close to either of them as their method of killing does not sound like fun to be their lunch–as Bill said, for larger prey, they will grab lunch and drown it before eating eat; for smaller meals, they will chomp up and eat on the spot. As alligators and crocs tend to stay near water, I do find it unusual to see a croc carrying lunch across a road, but without seeing a wider view, I will not cry “photoshop” (although that would be my tendency with this picture).

    If you want any other useless info, just let me know.

  18. florida gator, there are hills (even big ones) in N. Florida (which is southern GA).

    that’s a round snout, at least what one can see of it.

    one things for sure; there is nothing photoshopped about this.

  19. @ Paul in Boca: Where you’re right, you’re right. Don’t know why I had the 600ft in the back of mind. Main point however was that Florida has hills and that the image could have been taken in FL.
    @Bill – Walking around with their prey is fairly common. While they usually devour their prey on the spot – they take a hike, when fellow crocodilians are around, wanting to have a piece of the cake, too. So no – definitely no photoshopping involved. Just the story location does not seem to fit and is probably made up – as it is with numerous stories of pictures of that sort.

  21. Wow, great answer Tim, thanks.

    Now, if centrifugal force is fictitious, and centripetal force forces toward the centre of rotation, why do I fly off the roundabout when a chav puts the back wheel of his scooter on there and gives it the berries?

  28. It’s okay DJ, we’ve strung a few up from the trees as a warning to the others and showed the ringleaders around a slaughterhouse or two.
    They are quiet again.
    For now.

  29. /late to the party, you can see the notch where the Croc’s lower teeth protrude above the mouth, alligators don’t have that.

  30. I’ve lived in Florida all my life. I’ve been photographing wildlife full-time for the past 10 years. Usually about four days a week out in the wild. This is a saltwater croc and I’ve seen them as far north as Cedar Key/mouth of the Swanee River. I’ve seen alligators and crocs carrying their food across the road. From the vegetation in this image I’m sure it was shot in Florida. Those are not hills it’s a line of vegetation. I’ve seen alligators carrying pigs, birds, other gators and even dogs. Here is a link of a photo I took earlier this year. The smaller gator about 7 feet was laying on a log when this 10 footer came up and tore it in half.
    http://stephenlequier.com/p29163784/h3250f157#h3250f157

  31. AW,

    You’re saying you’ve seen saltwater crocs in Florida, or American Crocodiles. I thought they were two difference species but I’m a snake person not a gator person.

    Also, it would help if you could come up with a photo of the same type of creature in a similar setting. I’ve never met anyone who has taken a photo of an American croc before.

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