Crocodiles

Crocodiles are characters and species featured in The Lion King franchise. They serve as background characters in the animated Disney film, The Lion King, and have a more pronounced role in its sequel.

Background

Physical appearance

The crocodiles that appear in the franchise are most likely Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus), a species of crocodile that resides in Africa. Like other variations of its species, Nile crocodiles have short legs, long tails, and scaly hides. Their coloration ranges from dark green to brownish-bronze.

Appearances

The Lion King

Crocodiles are briefly seen during the musical number "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" during the line "Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing", where they open their mouths to reveal tiny birds singing inside.

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride

When Kiara wanders into the Outlands, she meets an Outsider cub named Kovu. Whilst talking, the two unknowingly walk over a bridge of crocodiles. As the fearsome creatures instigate an attack, the young lions race away in fear. The cubs barely manage to escape by climbing up a thin tree branch, but eventually make it to dry land and taunt the crocodiles from the top of a cliff. They are later seen in "Upendi".

Broadway Musical

After Simba dares Timon to jump over a rushing river, Timon misses and is carried by the force of the river. The current takes him to a waterfall, where he grabs onto a branch hanging over the waterfall to keep from plummeting to his death. In the pond below, two hungry crocodiles wait for Timon to fall so they can eat him. Timon loses his grip on the tree branch and falls in. Luckily, Simba helps him to shore just in time before the crocodiles can get to him.

The Lion Guard

Crocodiles have been featured in numerous episodes in The Lion Guard. In this series, crocodiles also have a competition known as a "Mashindano" where one crocodile challenges another one to know who retains current leadership during battle. The crocodile that loses during a Mashindano is banished from the float along with any others that follow him, and the winning crocodile gains its leadership.

Notable crocodiles featured in the series include Makuu, Pua, Nduli, Kiburi, and Tamka.

Trivia

The crocodiles are in their original shape in the 1994 release, but are redesigned in the IMAX/Special Edition version.
Despite their fearsome reputation, crocodiles are mainly perceived as good guys in The Lion King franchise. Riptail and Kiburi (along with his followers) are the only crocodiles who can be considered antagonists. Makuu was an antagonistic crocodile since the first season of The Lion Guard, but has reformed since the second season.
In some versions of "I Just Can't Wait to be King," the crocodiles are colored gray instead of green and with different birds in their mouths. The gray crocodile edit was featured from the 1995 VHS release, the Disney Sing-Along Songs version (1994-2003), the premiere on ABC, and the 2003 Special Edition release.
- The animation for these crocodiles also appeared in Disney Dreams! at Disneyland Paris.
The crocodiles from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride resemble the crocodiles from The Rescuers Down Under, albeit different in species (saltwater crocodiles).
One of the questions in the Who Wants to Be King of the Jungle game erroneously calls the reptile Kovu is standing on as an alligator instead of a crocodile. Alligators are restricted to the Americas and China in real life and possibly, the correct possible correction for the reptile that Kovu stands on is a crocodile. In addition, alligators have a U-shaped snout while crocodiles have a V-shaped snout, making both reptiles in the same order (Crocodilia) of crocodilians different.
- The fact that alligators live in North American swamps was also pointed out by Pumbaa in the boat cruise section of the Virtual Safari, when Timon thinks they were in alligator-infested waters until Pumbaa corrects that they were crocodiles that attack the boat.

Variants

Crocodiles (Mufasa: The Lion King)

Gallery

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from the The Lion King Wiki. The list of authors can be seen in the page revision history (view authors). As with Disney Wiki, the text of The Lion King Wiki is available under the CC-by-SA Free Documentation License.

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Media

Films: The Lion King (video) • The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (video) • The Lion King 1½ (video) • The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar • The Lion King (2019) (video) • Mufasa: The Lion King

Disney Parks

Rafiki's Planet Watch • Disney's Art of Animation Resort • Disney's Explorers Lodge • The Annex • Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable • Disney Animation Building • Esperanza Character Carousel • It's a Small World • Mickey's PhilharMagic • Rhythm of the Jungle • Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom • The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) • The Lion Guard Adventure • The Lion King: Pride Land (The Lion King attraction)

Entertainment: Animagique • Disney's Believe • Disney's Wishes • Disney Dreams: An Enchanted Classic • Disney KiteTails • Fantasmic! • Feel the Magic • Festival of Family & Friends • Festival of the Lion King • Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party • It's Party Time... with Mickey and Friends • Mickey and the Magician • Mickey and the Wondrous Book • Mickey's Gift of Dreams • Mickey's Magical Music World • Once Upon a Mouse • Rivers of Light: We Are One • The Adventure of Rhythm • The Golden Mickeys • The Legend of the Lion King • Villains Tonight!
Restaurants: Restaurant Hakuna Matata
Parades: A Million Splashes of Colour • Disney's Magical Moments Parade • Disney's Party Express • Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade • Disney Cinema Parade • Disney Magic on Parade • Disney Stars on Parade • Flights of Fantasy Parade • Jubilation! • Mickey & Friends Street Celebration • Mickey's Soundsational Parade • Mickey's Storybook Express • The Lion King Celebration • The Wonderful World of Disney Parade • Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams
Fireworks: Celebrate the Magic • Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland • Disney Dreams! • Disneyland Forever • Disney Tales of Magic • Happily Ever After • Harmonious • Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light • Illuminate! A Nighttime Celebration • The Magic, the Memories and You • Momentous • Once Upon a Time • Tree of Life Awakens • Wonderful World of Animation • World of Color • Wondrous Journeys
Summer: Stitch and Friends Summer Surprise
Halloween: Happy Hallowishes • Villains Grove

Characters

The Lion King: Simba • Nala • Mufasa • Scar • Rafiki • Timon • Pumbaa • Zazu • Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed • Sarabi • Sarafina • The Pridelanders • Pride Animals • Hyena Clan • Wildebeests • Mole • Vultures • Grubs

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride: Kiara • Kovu • Zira • Vitani • Nuka • Outsiders • Crocodiles
The Lion King 1½: Ma • Uncle Max • Meerkat Colony
Timon & Pumbaa: The Native Chief • The Three Natives • Mother Gorilla • Fronk Fegnugen • Monti • Baampu • Nobi • Fred • Quint • The Woodpecker • Bruce • Stinky • Ralph and Eddie • Teds • Savage Lion • Bartholomew • The Tarsier • Toucan Dan • Vulture Police • Ned • Nefu • Rabbit • Uncle Boaris • Uncle Ernie • Boss Beaver • Boy Beaver • Lester the Whale • The Tigress • Jackal • The Cobra • Speedy the Snail • Smolder the Bear • Little Jimmy • Irwin • El Toro • Count Down • Mr. Pig • Wolverine • Jumbo Jumbo the Elephant • Cheetato and Cheetata • Martin Partin • Rita Book • Chef Claude • Captain Bloodbeard • Cisco Pig • Cisco Pig's Gang • Dr. Cagliostro • Torgo • The Meerkat Angel • Wonderful Rhino of Laws • Pumbaa Jr. • Dr. Happy • Leslie Lambeau • Mr. Buttons • Sharla • Warthog Sounder • Herman • Lara • Mel • Claudius • Bahuka • Tutan Pharaoh • Genie • Madame Credenza • Duke Meerkat • Tatiana • Mother Eagle • Baby Earl • King Leopold • Princess Claudia • Sigmund and Lloyd • Heimlich and Schnitzel • Mad Dog McGraw, Billy the Goat, and Three-fingered Jackelope • Dr. Exeter • Sal Mander • Jungle Inspector • Bigfoot • Pimon and Tumbaa
The Lion Guard: Kion • Bunga • Fuli • Beshte • Ono • Tiifu • Zuri • Janja • Cheezi • Chungu • Janja's Clan • Mzingo • Mzingo's Parliament • Mwoga • Makuu • Makuu's Float • Pua • Basi • Basi's Pod • Ushari • Jasiri • Madoa • Tunu and Wema • Jasiri's Clan • Thurston • Mbeya • Porcupine Brothers • Ma Tembo • Zito • Aminifu • Reirei • Goigoi • Dogo • Dogo's Brothers • Kijana • Reirei's Pack • Twiga • Juhudi • Shingo • Muhanga and Muhangus • Tamaa • Nala's Father • Swala • Muhimu • Hamu • Ajabu • Makucha • Makucha's Leap • Makucha's Army • Fahari • Jiona • Mjomba • Ogpoa • Haya • Laini • Badili • Mbuni • Mapigano • Mtoto • Gumba • Kambuni • Kwato • Shauku • Nne • Tano • Vuruga Vuruga • Young Rhino • Lioness • Majinuni and Hafifu • King Sokwe • Hadithi • Big Baboon • Bupu • Boboka • Chura • Kifaru • Mwenzi • Uroho • Mwizi • Kulinda • Ona • Mpishi • Makini • Shupavu • Waza • Njano • Kiburi • Tamka • Nduli • Kiburi's Float • Chama • Kenge • Dhahabu • Hodari • Starehe • Raha • Nyuni • Sumu • Kongwe • Kinyonga • Kuchimba • Shujaa • Anga • Strange Lion • Strange Cobra • The Fastest • The Strongest • The Bravest • The Keenest of Sight • Yuki • Hitashi • Kimyo and Nabasu • Domog • Dughi • Bogino • Chuluun • Pãgala • Krud'dha • Lumba-Lumba • Old Civet • Ora • Komodo Dragon • Fikiri • Kitendo • Tupp • Azaad • Flamingo Girls • Flamingo Girls' Flamboyance • Tenuk • Tompok • Seisou • Bambun • Mouse Deer • Mama Binturong • Smun • Yun Mibu • Nirmala • Rani • Baliyo • Surak • Janna • Ullu • Sãhasí • Ãnanda • Binga • Tangaagim • Pinguino • Cek and Rama • Tsah and Sasem • Astuto • Varya • Feliks, Pasha, and Polina • Heng Heng • Kely • Kely's Troop • Askari • Shabaha • Kasi • Imara • Tazama
Printed Media: Uru • Ahadi • Kopa • Boma • Zuzu • Joka • Lulu
Deleted: Diku • Baasho • Iggy • Herr Rhino • Kwashi • Bhati • Mheetu • Banagi • Daabi • Dwala • Naanda
Remake: Simba • Nala • Mufasa • Scar • Rafiki • Timon • Pumbaa • Zazu • Shenzi, Kamari, and Azizi • Sarabi • Sarafina • Kiara • Dembe
Mufasa: The Lion King: Kiros • Eshe • Obasi • Masego • Afia
Miscellaneous: Zawadi • Kiume • Kibibi • Nakawa

Episodes
Timon & Pumbaa • The Lion Guard

Locations

The Lion King Trilogy: Africa • Mount Kilimanjaro • Pride Rock • The Pride Lands • The Water Hole • The Elephant Graveyard • The Gorge • Jungle • Rafiki's Ancient Tree • The Outlands

Timon & Pumbaa: Zazu's Tree • Madame Credenza's Place • Savage Rock • Boss Beaver's Log Land • The Tree of Truth • Dismal Swamp
The Lion Guard: Lair of the Lion Guard • Janja's Den • Tree of Life

Songs

The Lion King: Circle of Life • The Morning Report • I Just Can't Wait to Be King • Be Prepared • Hakuna Matata • Can You Feel the Love Tonight • Hawaiian War Chant

Instrumental Scores: This Land • Hyenas • ...To Die For • Under the Stars • King of Pride Rock • Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play with Your Food • We are All Connected • Hyenas in the Pride Lands • Elephant Graveyard • I Was Just Trying to Be Brave • Stampede • Mufasa Dies • If You Ever Come Back We'll Kill You • Bowling for Buzzards • We Gotta Bone to Pick With You • Kings of the Past • Nala, Is It Really You? • Remember Who You Are • This Is My Home • The Rightful King
Rhythm of the Pride Lands: The Lion Sleeps Tonight • Kube • Lea Halalela • It's Time • Lala • Busa • Noyana
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride: He Lives in You • We Are One • My Lullaby • Upendi • One of Us • Love Will Find a Way
The Lion King 1½: Digga Tunnah • That's All I Need • Sunrise, Sunset • Grazing in the Grass
Musical: Lioness Hunt • Rafiki Mourns • One by One • Grasslands Chant • Chow Down • The Madness of King Scar • Shadowland • Endless Night • Simba Confronts Scar
Timon & Pumbaa: The Lion Sleeps Tonight • Alone Together • Stand by Me • Yummy Yummy Yummy
The Lion Guard: Call of the Guard • A Beautiful Day (Ni Siku Nzuri) • Zuka Zama • Tonight We Strike • Kion's Lament • It is Time • Here Comes the Lion Guard • We're the Same (Sisi Ni Sawa) • Don't Make a Stink • Bunga the Wise • Duties of the King • Outta the Way • Jackal Style • Our Kupatana Community • My Own Way • Utamu • All Hail The Vultures • Hero Inside • Bird of a Thousand Voices • Panic and Run • Trail to Hope • Life in the Pride Lands • We'll Make You a Meal • Find Your Roar • Chungu's Lament • Baboons • Beware of the Zimwi • Lions Over All • Stand Up, Stand Out • Kuishi Ni Kucheka • Running with the King • Hadithi the Hero • Makin' Hippo Lanes • Tickbirds and Rhinos • Teke Ruka Teleza • Everyone is Welcome • The Traveling Baboon Show • A Real Meal • Fujo • The Path of Honor • Bring Back a Legend • Today is my Day • I Have A Plan • Gotta Look on the Bright Side • The Worst Hyena We Know • May There Be Peace • Big Bad Kenge • Christmas in the Pride Lands • The Twelve Ways of Christmas • I Do Have a Great Deal to Say • Fabulous Dhahabu • Give a Little Guy a Chance • We're the Smartest • Good King Simba • The Faster I Go • I'm Gonna Run This Dump • Now You See Me, Now You Don't • Wisdom on the Walls • He's The Zebra Mastermind • Kwetu Ni Kwetu • Nothin' to Fear Down Here • Shujaa Ponda • Pride Landers Unite! • Prance With Me • Tujiinue • Height and Sight • We Will Defend • A New Way to Go • On the Last Night • When I Led the Guard • The Tree of Life • Home of a Snow Monkey's Dreams • Ghost of the Mountain • Anything • That's the Dolphin Way • As You Move Forward • Flamingo Dance Party • You Best Not Mess With Mama • Friends to the End • Kion's Reckoning • Welcome to the Tree of Life • Who is Better Than Who • Poa the Destroyer • Long Live the Queen • Remember What Makes You You • The Power of the Roar • Of the Same Pride • As You Move On
Remake: Life's Not Fair • Rafiki's Fireflies • Scar Takes the Throne • Simba is Alive! • Reflections of Mufasa • Spirit • Battle for Pride Rock • Remember • Never Too Late • Mbube
Mufasa: The Lion King Ngomso • I Always Wanted a Brother • Milele • We'll Go Together • Tell Me It's You
Deleted: To Be King • Warthog Rhapsody • The Lion of the Moon • Old Fearless Buzz • The Madness of King Scar • Thanks to Me • Where Do I Belong
Miscellaneous: Safety Smart

See Also
Rafiki's Bakora Staff • Great Lions of the Past • Musical • Lion Guard • Roar of the Elders • Night Pride • Mark of the Guard • Mark of the Night Pride • Moja Kwa Moja Stone • Tuliza • The Disney Afternoon • Find Out Why • House of Mouse • One by One • Timon & Pumbaa's Vacation Safari • As Told by Emoji