This is why baby hippos, which crocodiles will attack if they catch them alone, are often seen chewing on the skin of crocodiles, perhaps to aid their teething.
Hippos and crocodiles coexist in the rivers of sub-Saharan Africa. Typically, crocodiles leave hippos alone. Hippos are aggressive and considered one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.
In other words, while the hippos appear to be "rescuing" the wildebeest in the video, it's more likely they were aggressively claiming their territory. So even though the video doesn't necessarily show a case of hippo altruism, McCauley says it's a great example of how animals co-habituate and share space in the wild.
The crocs don't seem to enjoy the hippos' disrespect but choose to ignore them altogether. A baby croc joins in on the insolence and bites, licks, and gnaws a croc's tail as though playing with a chew toy.
Hippos have a very powerful bite at 1,800PSI. Their teeth are long and sharp, measuring up to 1.5ft. Crocodiles have the most powerful bite measured of any terrestrial creature, smashing down on enemies at 3,700PSI with 4-inch teeth. Crocodiles win in terms of bite power, but their teeth just don't measure up.
This is the amazing moment a heroic hippo saved a gnu from certain death. After being bitten by a crocodile, the large antelope is seen being dragged slowly under the water. But in a miraculous turn of events, a nearby hippo is seen making its way across the water to help the animal in its hour of need.
"Lions will not want to put themselves at significant risk of injury in taking on large mammals which can very easily injure them," Watson said by email. "In my experience, lion are known to go for easiest targets—and hippo, elephant, and [adult] giraffe certainly do not fall into this category."
The highly territorial saltwater and Nile crocodile species attack when anyone disturbs them, especially during the mating season. What is most likely to kill an elephant is the crocodile biting the elephant's trunk off. The elephant may then die as a result of not being able to eat and drink properly, or even breathe.
With a mind-boggling 3,700 pounds per square inch of bite force, crocodiles boast 1,200 psi more than this list's runner up, and more than twice as much chomping power than the third-place hippopotamus. When it comes to biting, crocodiles simply leave all their competition in the dust.
Even if the hippo did successfully ambush and bite the elephant, the elephant would rear back in pain from being bitten and then spear a tusk through the hippo. That would cause massive damage to the hippo's body or organs, instantly debilitating or outright killing them. In a fight, the elephant would handily win.
Nile crocodiles, lions, and spotted hyenas are known to prey on young hippos. Beyond these, adult hippos are not usually preyed upon by other animals due to their aggression and size. Cases where large lion prides have successfully preyed on adult hippos have been reported, but it is generally rare.
If the fight takes place in an open area, then the rhino would likely win due to its greater speed and agility. However, if the fight takes place in water, then the hippo would likely have the advantage due to its greater strength and jaw power.
Hippos face very few threats from other animals in the wilderness. Most of the threats from other animals are directed towards the younger hippos by Nile crocodiles and other predators. It would take a big pride of lions to put down one adult hippo - and the fight wouldn't be an easy one.
Theoretically speaking, a hippo has enough bite power to cut a small crocodile in half. Hippos are extremely dangerous animals and are responsible for many human fatalities every year. They are also aggressive, immensely strong and deceptively quick on land over short distances (I've heard they can reach 30mph).
If a fight occurred between a hippo and a gorilla it is obvious that a hippo severely outmatches even the largest of gorillas and strongest gorillas. In a fight, a hippo can easily kill a gorilla by either charging through them or using its large mouth to take them out.
A crocodile would win a fight against a Komodo dragon. Crocodiles are simply too large and too powerful for a Komodo dragon to fight back against. One likely outcome would be the crocodile waiting for the Komodo dragon in the water and dragging it beneath the waves to suffer a brutal death.
Predators and Threats
Due to the large size and highly aggressive nature of these apex predators, adult crocodiles have very few predators within their natural environments with the exception of occasional takings by big cats such as lions, jaguars, and tigers.
Animals with no natural predators are called apex predators, because they sit at the top (or apex) of the food chain. The list is indefinite, but it includes lions, grizzly bears, crocodiles, giant constrictor snakes, wolves, sharks, electric eels, giant jellyfish, killer whales, polar bears, and arguably, humans.
A crocodile would win a fight against a gorilla. Most of the fights would begin in or near water, and a gorilla doesn't stand a chance in that scenario. If a crocodile bit and dragged the gorilla into the water, then it's a simple victory.
A hippo would definitely win on land 100% of the time. In water, perhaps 80%. Hippos are quite larger than a saltwater crocodile and have more brute strength. They also could seriously damage a crocodile with their bite, even though the latter is more popular for its jaw strength.
Scientists and herpetologists who have studied Gustave claim that his uncommon size and weight impede his ability to hunt the species' usual agile prey such as fish, antelope and zebra, forcing him to attack larger animals such as hippopotamus, large buffalo and, to some extent, humans.
Hippos also seem to empathize with the prey of crocodiles and have been known to stand guard over dead and dying antelope on river banks.