What are the major differences between crocodiles and aligators?

Question

Sure, everyone knows they have differently shaped snouts. But what else sets them apart?

Ah, the teeth! That's right, I remember. Crocodiles have a snaggletooth grin, and both upper and lower teeth can be seen when their jaws are closed. Only upper teeth can be seen in an aligator's closed jaws.

Also, aligators and crocodiles are both reptiles! Amphibians are animals like frogs and salamanders. There are also some crocodiles which live in fresh water.

Answer 1

1.Placement of teeth:In alligators,the upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw and completely overlaps it. Therefore the teeth in the lower jaw are almost completely hidden when the mouth closes, fitting neatly into small depressions or sockets in the upper jaw. This is particularly apparent with the large fourth tooth in the lower jaw.In crocodiles, the upper jaw and lower jaw are approximately the same width, and so teeth in the lower jaw fit along the margin of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. Therefore, the upper teeth interlock (and "interdigitate") with the lower teeth when the mouth shuts. As the large fourth tooth in the lower jaw also fits outside the upper jaw, there is a well-defined constriction in the upper jaw behind the nostrils to accommodate it when the mouth is closed .This constriction occurs at the boundary of the premaxilla and the maxilla in the upper jaw.

2.Crocodiles also differ from alligators and caimans in having functioning salt glands on their tongue.Structurally, these are actually modified salivary glands,and while alligators and caimans also have these structures they appear to have lost the ability to use them for excreting significant amounts of salt. This makes crocodiles more tolerant to life in saline water, including sea water in some species.Moreover, it suggests that crocodiles have a more recent marine ancestry: the ability to migrate across wide marine bodies, and even live there for extended periods, would certainly explain their current wide distribution across different continents. If ancestral species could live in marine environments, this ability has not been completely lost in modern crocodiles. Species such as saltwater crocodiles (C. porosus) can survive for extended periods in tidal estuaries, around the coast, and even out to sea. Alligators and caimans have lost much of this osmotic ability to secrete excess salt through the tongue glands, and can only tolerate it for short periods of time, prefering to remain in freshwater areas when possible. However it is not unknown for large alligators to find their way into tidal mangroves and very rarely into coastal area

3.Integumentary sense organs: Both crocodiles and alligators have small, sensory pits dotted around the upper and lower jaws and you'll see small, black speckles almost like unshaven stubble. These are capable of detecting small pressure changes in water, and assist in locating and capturing prey.These were originally called ISOs, or Integumentary Sense Organs, although recent research has renamed them DPRs (Dermal Pressure Receptors). Crocodiles have similar organs covering virtually every scale on their body,but alligators and caimans only have those around the jaws. Although it's been known for years that sense organs on the jaws are involved in pressure detection, nobody is quite sure what those organs covering the rest of the body in crocodiles actually do. They probably extend the sensory surface over the crocodile's entire body, but previous researchers have suggested they may assist in chemical reception, or even salinity detection. The confusion lies over why crocodiles have them, but not alligators and caimans. Regardless of their role, they're very good at telling apart crocodile skin from alligator skin. Crocodile and alligator skin wallets, handbags, boots etc are easy to tell apart - if the scales have a small spot or dimple close to the edge, you know the skin is from a crocodile and not an alligator or caiman.

Answer 2

Crocodiles have a 4th tooth in their lower jaw that's visible when closed, alligators don't. In fact, usually you can't see an alligator's lower teeth when its mouth is closed. Alligators are also darker. Crocodiles also grow larger than alligators and are more aggressive. There are also more species of crocodiles and they are more widely distributed worldwide than alligators. Alligators are only found in the Southern U.S. and small regions in China. Crocodiles are on every continent except Europe and Antarctica.

Answer 3

1. Crocodiles are from the crocodylidae family, alligators are from the alligatoridae family
2. Crocs have a narrow snot, not suitable for eating turtles, alligators have wider snout, with more crushing power and so can eat turtles.
3. Alligators are in freshwater, whereas crocs are in saltwater like seas and oceans.
4. Crocs have interlocking teeth and same width for both jaws, so you can see their entire set of teeth. Alligators have a wider upper jaw, in which the lower set of teeth fit perfectly - so they are hidden from view.
5. Crocs are lighter in color, alligators are blackish/darker

Answer 4

aligators are fresh water amphibians whose teeth are inside the mouth.

Crocs are salt water amphibians whose teeth are mainly exposed.

Answer 5

Alligators only live in America and China.

Answer 6

most ppl that i know of says see you later aligator than see u later crocodile

Answer 7

This is just a guess: But I thought it was their eyes. I was told once that one has eyes that face forward, the other eyes are on either side of the head.

Answer 8

Their teeth layout

Answer 9

the frontof their jaws..the alligator is more narrow than the croc..is wider..