How are alligators different than crocodiles

Introduction

     You might think alligators and crocodiles are the same, but you are wrong and right at the same time. There are a lot of similarities between crocodiles and alligators, because they come from the same family of animals and have common ancestors. 

     But over the 85 million years that alligators and crocodiles have lived on Earth, they have adapted to develop some important differences in appearance, behavior, and habitat that make them different animals. 

     Keep reading to learn more about how crocodiles and alligators are different.

Snouts

     The easiest way to tell the difference between alligators and crocodiles is by looking at their snouts. The alligator's snout is a U-shape and a crocodile's snout has a V-shape snout. 

   Since their nose is often the only part of the crocodile or alligator that can be seen above the water line when it is swimming, looking at the snout is the fastest and most effective way to know if your new reptile friend is an alligator or a crocodile. 

    If it's an alligator, watch out! If it's a crocodile, it may already be too late!

Teeth

     All crocodilians, including alligators, crocodiles and caiman (an animal similar to alligators) have unlimited teeth. Alligators have teeth that stick out from their top jaw. The lower teeth are not visible when an alligator's mouth is shut.

     Crocodiles are different because some teeth appear in their bottom jaw. In particular, five large front teeth are visible in a crocodile's bottom jaw. So if its mouth is closed and you can see bottom teeth, you are staring at a crocodile.

     Crocodile teeth can shred deer, cats, dogs, and raccoons, so watch out! They use a technique called the death roll to make their prey softer and easier to swallow. 

   Alligators have between 74 and 80 teeth, but over their lifetime they may go through 2,000 to 3,000 teeth, because they are continuously losing teeth and regrowing new ones. 

   Most crocodiles have between 64 and 68 teeth, and just like alligators, crocodiles will constantly lose and regrow thousands of teeth in their lifetime. 

  Fun fact:  The gharial crocodile has 110 very pointed teeth! Crazy!

EyeS

     Crocodiles and alligators have eyes on top of their heads. They have a third eyelid that covers their eyes when they are underwater to help them see their prey. Weird!  The third eyelid is also clear and it is called nictitating membrane.

      This adaptation developed way back in time during the dinosaur age. Alligators and crocodiles also have night vision to see in the pitch black sky.

Size and Weight

     Nile crocodiles are a smaller species that grows up to about 10 to 16 feet and weigh 500 to 1,000 pounds. Alligators grow up to 8 to 15 and weigh 300 to 1,000 pounds. 

     Crocodiles are usually larger than alligators, but crocodiles can come in many different sizes.  The largest crocodiles are saltwater crocodiles.  

     Here is a really strange fact: male saltwater crocodiles can grow up to 23 feet long! That's HUGE! But female saltwater crocodiles only grow to about 8 to 10 feet long. That's a lot, LOT SMALLER.  Think about it. That would be like if your mom grew 6 feet tall and your dad grew 15 feet tall! WEIRD!    

Behavior 

     Let's say you live in Florida. In the summer it gets hot and some kids like to swim in murky water. DON'T DO IT! This may be the home swamp of an alligator.

     Alligators are not as aggressive as crocodiles, but if you are splashing around in the swamp water, the alligator will think you’re prey and bite you to try out its lunch. Maybe you'll survive if the alligator just takes a nibble and doesn't like the taste. But why take the chance?

    Crocodiles are way more aggressive. They will kill and eat you! Crocodiles are much more likely to attack and injure you. Alligators tend to be more curious and less aggressive, so they may just check you out without hurting you if you're lucky.

Hunting

     Alligators have that U-shaped snout, which is pretty useful for hunting deer, fish, raccoons, cats, and dogs, which can get swallowed whole. 

     Crocodiles have the V-shaped snout for hunting and eating fish, birds, reptiles and even other crocodiles.

     Baby alligators eat tadpoles, small fish, and bugs, and baby crocodiles eat small insects, crustaceans, such as tiny crabs, and small fish. 

Power

     Alligators have a bite force of about 2,125 pounds per square inch (psi), so if an alligator gets you in the grips of its strong jaws and sharp teeth, you don't have a chance of escaping this deadly predator.

    In comparison, a lion has a bite force of about 600 psi, and a human has a bite force of about 120 psi. So alligators have incredibly strong and powerful jaw muscles.

   But crocodiles are the champions. Crocodiles have a bite force of 3,700 to 5000 psi

Swimming

    Both alligators and crocodiles have webbed feet to propel themselves through the water. They also have strong tails that they make go back and forth to help them move through the water. 

     Alligators and crocodiles don’t open their jaws underwater. They can move at a speed of about 20 miles per hour in the water, and about 30 miles per hour on land. You should make sure you stay a very safe distance away from alligators and crocodiles because they can move much faster than humans on both land and water.

Habitat

     Crocodiles live mostly in tropical areas like lakes, rivers, and swamps on the continents of Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, and South America. Mostly crocodiles live in freshwater habitats, but some species of crocodiles have adapted to living in saltwater.

    Alligators live in fewer places than crocodiles. They mostly live in freshwater environments such as ponds, marshes, rivers, lakes and swamps in the southeastern United States. The largest populations of alligators are found in the states of Louisiana and Florida.  There is also a small area of China on the Yangtze River where alligators live.

    Southern Florida is the only place on Earth where alligator and crocodiles live side by side in nature. So if you live in or are visiting Florida or especially the Florida Everglades, it is very important to know the differences between alligators and crocodiles because both of these animals are found in Florida.