The Heaviest Living Reptiles In The World
The heaviest reptiles on this list include crocodiles, lizards, snakes, Plesiosaurs, Ichthyosaurs, Tuataras, Turtles, and Pterosaurs. The crocodile is the heaviest of all reptiles.
In terms of length and weight, the Saltwater Crocodile (which can grow as long as 7 meters and as heavy as 2,000 kilograms) is the largest living reptile on Earth.
The Leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle and the fourth-largest reptile, following saltwater crocodiles as the largest crocodilian species. Some of the largest reptiles on this list have officially confirmed maximum weights, while others have only been estimated.
The next two biggest reptiles also come from the crocodile family, but their closely connected cousin, the alligator, doesn’t seem on the list of heaviest reptiles until number 8.
The American Alligator weighs about 240 kilograms and is around 11.2 feet long. However, in several cases, length does not ensure weight.
For example, the Leatherback Sea Turtle is only 6.6 feet long, but it’s still managed to snag the number four spot on the list, weighing 364 kilograms.
These massive animals play a significant role in their environment and can be found in many different parts of the world.
The Heaviest Living Reptiles In The World
Animal | Average mass | Maximum mass | Average total length |
Saltwater crocodile | 450 (990) | 2000 (4400) | 4.5 (14.8) |
Nile crocodile | 410 (900) | 1090 (2400) | 4.2 (13.8) |
Orinoco crocodile | 380 (840) | 1100 (2400) | 4.1 (13.5) |
Leatherback sea turtle | 364 (800) | 932 (2050) | 2.0 (6.6) |
Black caiman | 350 (770) | 1100 (2400) | 3.9 (12.8) |
American crocodile | 335 (739) | 1000 (2200) | 4.0 (13.1) |
Gharial | 250 (550) | 1000 (2200) | 4.5 (14.8) |
American alligator | 240 (530) | 1000 (2200) | 3.4 (11.2) |
Mugger crocodile | 225 (495) | 700 (1,500) | 3.3 (10.8) |
False gharial | 210 (460) | 500 (1,100) | 4.0 (13.1) |
Aldabra giant tortoise | 205 (450) | 360 (790) | 1.4 (4.6) |
Loggerhead sea turtle | 200 (441) | 545 (1202) | 0.95 (3.2) |
Green sea turtle | 190 (418.9) | 395 (870.8) | 1.12 (3.67) |
Slender-snouted crocodile | 180 (400) | 325 (720) | 3.3 (10.8) |
Galapagos tortoise | 175 (390) | 417 (919) | 1.5 (4.9) |