Why do crocodiles have such powerful jaws?

Crocodilian skulls are shaped to deliver extreme bite force, and the animals have massive muscles that close the jaws. They are designed more for grabbing and holding than for chewing, since crocodiles usually swallow large pieces of food or tear meat with a twisting motion. This makes sense for an ambush hunter that waits near water and attacks quickly. Modern crocodilians are descendants of a long line of archosaurs, with body plans refined over tens of millions of years. The result is one of the strongest bite systems in the animal kingdom.