Crocodilians are active carnivores- they eat meat. Fresh and juicy to rotten and stinky, every kind of meat gets a place in their stomach. Yet, scientists have found seeds in these reptiles’ stomachs.
It may surprise you, but crocodilians consume fruits despite being apex carnivores. However, the majority of scientists support the theory that alligators and crocodiles are obligate carnivores and that the fruits they consume are anomalous foods. Therefore, they do not regularly include fruits in their diet.
According to a study published in the Journal of Zoology, 13 of 18 crocodilian species studied, ranging from the American alligator to the Nile crocodile, ate certain forms of fruit, including berries, nuts, and so on. However, this does not imply that they are herbivorous.
Bernard DUPONT (CC BY-SA 2.0)
But how about calling crocodilians “frugivorous carnivores?”
The following are some fruits and vegetables that crocodiles and alligators enjoy eating.
| Fruits | Vegetables |
| Apples | Legumes |
| Passion fruits | Lettuces |
| Pears | |
| Wild grapes | |
| Elderberries | |
| Nuts |
What do crocodiles and alligators eat?
Crocs and alligators are not the same. But their basic food habit is similar since both of them are active carnivores. So, let’s look at what these crocodilians eat.
Both crocodiles and alligators are hard-core flesh eaters. They eat various types of meat. Also, remember that these large reptiles are opportunistic eaters. So, they will eat any potential prey that is easy to grab and harmless.
Here is a list of some of the favorite food items of crocodiles and alligators.
| Crocodiles | Alligators |
| Fish | Turtles |
| Small frogs/ toads | Fish |
| Crustaceans | Frogs |
| Mammals | Snails |
| Insects | Waterfowl |
| Birds | Clams |
| Fruits (occasionally) | Fruits (occasionally) |
How often do crocodiles eat fruits?
After learning that crocs sometimes binge eat fruits, we are eager to learn how often they prefer munching fruits. Let’s find out.
You must not be under the impression that crocs eat fruits regularly. However, as fruits are anomalous food in their case, they occasionally eat fruits. Sometimes, they even consume fruits by accident. Hence, they cannot be categorized as herbivores or omnivores.
There is no data that can label the frequency of crocs’ fruit consumption. And we can only say that they eat fruits rarely.
Summary
So, the bottom line is that crocodiles and alligators consume fruits but occasionally. Hence, it is not at all recommended to feed these reptiles fruits regularly. Always bear in mind that crocodilians are meant to be apex predators, and their regular food includes different types of meat.