Notable Difference Between Alligator And Crocodile.
Notable differences Between Alligator And Crocodile: For most people, alligators or crocodiles are common terms used to describe any large water-dwelling lizard with big teeth. These people see the large reptiles as one and the same and they possess no observable difference. In this article, we will show you the notable differences between alligator and crocodile.
Alligators live only in the eastern China and southeastern US, while crocodiles can be found all over the world in Africa, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia, Central America and South America.
Notable Differences Between Alligator And Crocodile
- Family: Alligators and crocodiles are from the same scientific order but from separate families. The animals are members of the Crocodylia, but alligators come from the Alligatordae family while crocodiles are from the Crocodylidae family.
- Location: Crocodiles exist both in freshwater and saltwater, while alligators prefer freshwater environments. Florida Everglades is usually the only place on earth in which both crocodiles and alligators coexist.
- Appearance: The most apparent difference comes from their appearances. Crocodiles have longer, pointier snouts while alligators have shorter, more rounded snout. When an alligator’s mouth is shut, you won’t see any of its teeth.
However, when a crocodile has it’s mouth shut, its back teeth stick up over the top lip, showing off a toothy grin. Alligator snouts are always stronger than crocodile snouts because they are broader, which allow them to crush hard-shelled prey such as turtles. Crocodiles are usually lighter in color, with tans and brown colors; alligators are darker, showing more gray and black colors.
- Skill: Both members have a very heightened sense, which makes them excellent hunters with sharp, above-water vision, night vision, sensitive hearing, and vertical pupils that take in additional light, both crocodiles and alligators are a nightmare for their prey.
However, with above-water vision, you can expect to see them peeping their eyes up during your Everglades airboat tour. Both members have small sensory pits along their jaws that allow them to notice pressure changes in the water, and to locate and capture prey. None of the reptile is a big fan of chewing their food; they prefer to swallow large chunks or swallow the animal whole.
Crocodiles have an higher functioning salt glands, which lets them to excrete higher amounts of salt from water than alligators can. Alligators’ glands do not function as strongly, hence they are less patient to saltwater environments and prefer freshwater. With this ability, crocodiles are successful in migrating all over multiple marine bodies.
- Behavior: Crocodiles are frequently regarded as much more hostile than alligators. While you should avoid contact with both animals at all costs, alligators in the Everglades are likely to be more compliant than crocodiles, only attacking if hungry or provoked.
Crocodiles are known to attack just because something or someone is near them; crocodiles are more active in the water. Alligators in the swamp would rather lounge or sunbathe on the banks or in mud close to the water, which is why they can be easily spotted during Everglades airboat tours.
- Mating: Studies have seen that a high percentage of female alligators will constantly mate with the same male alligators for life. On the contrary, it is classic for young batches of crocodile babies to come from lots of mates.
- Lifespan: Crocodiles have longer span than alligators. The minimum lifespan of a crocodile is between 70-100 years, for alligators it is between 30-50 years. If you go on an airboat tour of the swamp with Everglades Holiday Park, the airboat captains might be able to point out some crocodiles they have seen for years and years.