Crocodiles and alligators are the closest living relatives to birds and ancient dinosaurs, being the only two groups currently left of the archosaurs. The order of the crocodilians, or Crocodilia, includes the largest living reptiles on the planet, which have existed with forms very similar to those of today for more than 83 million years, when they appeared in the cretaceous period.
However, despite the primitive majesty of these animals, not everyone knows how to differentiate well the different families of their order, including crocodiles and alligators. If you want to learn the difference between a crocodile and an alligatorJoin us in this interesting article by Green Ecologist.
There are five big differences between crocodile and alligator that can help us distinguish these large reptiles:
This is the most immediate and simple method to know if we are facing an alligator or a crocodile, since it can also be observed from quite a distance. Crocodiles have a long snout and sharp, narrow, with a shape similar to that of a V if we see its head from above. However, alligators have a more rounded snout, U-shaped.
In addition, the lower jaw of alligators is narrower than the upper one, so when they have their mouths closed, their lower teeth are hidden by the upper jaw. Crocodiles, on the other hand, have both jaws of the same size, so when they close their mouths, we can see both their upper and lower teeth, interspersed in the different hollows of the jaws. This makes them look much more threatening even with their mouths closed.
Crocodiles are usually much larger than alligators. This also depends on the state of maturation of each individual and the specific species but, as a general rule, when faced with two adults, the crocodile will be larger and heavier.
The skin of both species reveals small dark spots on their skin, with a pattern reminiscent of splashes and showing a slight depression. These are organs for sensing pressure changes and other variables in the water. Alligators only have them around the jaws, while crocodiles have them all over the body.
Where does the crocodile live and where does the alligator live? This also turns out to be one of the differences between these two animals, because although both can be in fresh water, only crocodiles are able to survive in salty waters thanks to their ability to filter excess salinity. The glands of alligators in charge of this work much worse, so they can only live in fresh water.
It is rare for an alligator to attack a human without provocation, while crocodiles are much more fierce and aggressive, and you have to be much more careful with them, as they immediately go on to defend their territory or their group.
These are the main similarities between crocodiles and alligators are as follows:
Learn more about these animals and others like them in this other post by Green Ecologist on the Characteristics of reptiles.
These are the main characteristics of the crocodile:
Learn more about the Characteristics of the crocodile in this other post.
These are the main characteristics of the alligator:
We have already mentioned that crocodiles are much more aggressive than alligators and that they can attack without provocation, at least not obvious to us. As if this were not enough, if we ask ourselves other questions such as what is the speed of a crocodile? or what is bigger a crocodile or an alligator ?, the answers to both lead us in the same direction.
Crocodiles are bigger and heavier and, furthermore, a marine crocodile, the largest of all crocodiles, can reach speeds of 43 km / h in water. So, no matter how beautiful these animals are, if you see a crocodile in the wild, never go near it because, although crocodiles are more dangerous than alligators, both are equally dangerous for us.
The family Alligatoridae It not only includes the genus Caiman, there are also the Alligator, the Melanosuchus and the Paleosuchus. Alligators or alligators, commonly called alligators, are divided into two living species, the american alligator and the chinese alligator. They are one of the few voiced reptiles, capable of roaring to intimidate their threats. The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is larger than the Chinese alligator or Yangtze alligator (Alligator sinensis), usually up to twice as large.
They are also the gharials or gavial of the Ganges (Gavialis gangeticus), the only species that the genus Gavialis comprises. They are very easy to distinguish by their thin and long snout, clearly specialized for hunting fish, which form the basis of their diet. It is even more aquatic than its relatives and is in danger of extinction.
Here below you can see the images of the two species of alligators and the gharial mentioned.
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