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(07-23-2020, 05:15 PM)OncaAtrox Wrote: @Shadow that is why I left out the possibility that a big male from an area like los Llanos or Pantanal would be able to get the job done within land.
The most impressive feat by a jaguar on a crocodilian recorded is the already mentioned case of an Amazonian jaguar killing a 3,8 meter black caiman:
*This image is copyright of its original author
My guess is that most crocodilians are helpless in land because their nape and skull are completely exposed, and as you said they can't do much in terms of agility to fend of a dexterous animal like a big cat, out of which the jaguar is one of the felids with the most developed grappling abilities. If a large male can get on top of the crocodile and lock itself into the crocodile's nape there is little the reptile can do to fend it off, it may take a long for the kill to get done depending on the size of the crocodile but in my opinion the big cat would have the upper hand in the long run.
One of the reasons why we haven't seen much cases of interspecific conflict between Llanos jaguars and Orinoco crocodiles is due to the fact that latter has been subject to major hunting pressure and its numbers are very low nowadays despite conservation efforts. I'm sure that in previous centuries when those crocodiles were plentiful fights between the two must have unfolded but went unrecorded.
What I find interesting is, that (at least some) lions flip crocodiles over and then use throat bite.
13,6 ft (4,15 meters) crocodile with throat bite marks, killed by lion.
*This image is copyright of its original author
a lioness can kill a 12ft -13ft croc but that croc doesn't look that big if it is it's pretty slim and i'm trying to figure out how any feline would casually flip a 13ft croc to apply a throat bite
*This image is copyright of its original author
This large crocodile had been killed and eaten by the resident lions in the area. Measuring 13ft 6″ is the length of a medium size fishing boat this must be the same croc here
I didn´t say, that casually flipping, just flipping. Big cats are known to learn things and some lions are specialists in killing buffalos, some are better than others with hippos and some kill crocodiles. It was said, that Bumi lions used to flip crocodiles over and then go to the throat. It was kind of trade mark for them. I´ve seen some other photos too indicating same, that´s why I said, that it´s interesting how at least some lions do so. It would feel easier in some way to just be on back of crocodile and maul it to death or so badly injured, that it couldn´t move anymore, but lions seem to disagree.
Anyway how casual it is, I don´t know, but it has to be relatively easy for lion, who has learned to handle crocodiles. They are after all too slow to flee when on land and in that way easy prey for specialized big cat, who has no fear towards it.
