what is the difference between alligators and crocodiles?

Question

i was chilin nd i was lukin at pics of aligators n crocdiles nd i was wunderin wat is da diff tween em

Answer 1

Ok, here we go again, even though it's been answered a million-jillion times. Look at a pic of a gator and a pic of a croc, and follow along, starting with the nose, cuz I'm gonna add some stuff I haven't mentioned in the past. Hold onto your seats.

Not only is a croc's snout more slender and pointed than an alligator's (gator is rounded and more broad-snouted), and there's teeth sticking out all over the place (alligator has what appears to be an overbite, the teeth in it's lower jaw fit into sockets behind the teeth on the upper jaw), but a croc's nostrils are both on a single nasal disc, there's two bumps where gator nostrils are.

Let's examine the mouth a bit more, alligator teeth are conical and somewhat blunt when they get big. Crocodile's teeth are more dagger-shaped. The inside of that mouth, if it's an alligator is almost an almond color, not quite white or cream, but kinda in the same family. Crocodile mouths have more of an orangeish hue. Move a little further back now, to the eyes. Gator's eyes are golden, crocodile eyes are green.

Further down and onto the back, coloration. An alligator will range from charcoal grey to black. Young alligators have yellow stripes on a black background. Some of this banding is visible in adults, but typically, the older they get, the darker the coloration. Crocodiles, on the other hand, range anywhere in color from olive drab to golden khaki. Now look at the texture of the skin.
On both of their backs are what are called osteoderms or scutes, or for the complete layman, "bumps". These are bones under the surface of their skin. They not only act as armor plating, but they have capillaries that feed through them and they are basically solar panels and radiators. Alligator scutes are somewhat smooth, they don't stick too far out from the back of the animal, and are in relatively straight rows.
Crocodiles on the other hand have very pronounced scutes (comparing the tail scutes on a crocodile vs. and alligator is basically the difference between a '57 chevy and a 55 chevy, respectively.) which are scattered over their back, onto their sides, and in some species even in their belly skin. This is why you see more alligator skin purses and such than crocodile skin. (Some crocs however do have what is referred to in the business as a "classic hide" {no scutes in the belly skin})
The back feet of a croc have more webbing than gator's back feet.
And last but not least, there are only two species of alligator (american and chinese) and 23 species of crocodile.

I hope that helped.

edited to add............

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/cbd-faq-q1.htm

Answer 2

crocodiles get much larger than alligators.

alligators have a u shaped head while crocs have a v shaped head. crocs (especially the saltwater croc) can get up to 20 ft long.

another difference is by looking at their teeth from the side....not that you wanna get that close.....but the alligators teeth only stuck out from the top jaw, and over lap onto the bottom.
the croc has both top teeth and bottom teeth that overlaps and sticks out, which make them seem a little more toothy.

gators are also generally a little more darker, having brown tones in their skin, while crocs can generally be lighter in shade.


also...especially here in america, the alligator waaaaaay out numbers the american croc! there is an estimated 1.5 million american alligarots vs only about 500 american crocs....most of which reside at local zoo's and reptile aquariums.

Answer 3

crocs generally have a longer narrow snout.but the best way to tell is by the teeth in the bottom jaw. A crocs teeth are visible when the mouth is closed . an alligator keeps them inside his mouth and you can see them only when he opens his mouth. South american crocs can be enormous ,but they are shy creatures. Not aggressive maneaters like the african cousin.

Answer 4

There are so many differences. They are completely different. Have a look at wikipedia. The discussion is extensive.

They have different habitats - there are some saltwater crocs whereas alligators require fresh water environments only.

Answer 5

I'm sure this isn't the only difference, but alligators have a wider snout than crocodiles and are a darker color.

Answer 6

not much really accept that the snout on a croc is more long and narrow and comes to more of a point,and the alligator has a wider and blunt snout,that's about it!

Answer 7

Alligators have a shorter nose and crocodiles have a much longer and narrow nose....

Just keep that in mind!!!!

Answer 8

The difference between the two of them have to do whit the way there snot/nose looks i beleive there is a difference and thats how you can tell

Answer 9

Here are some quick ways to tell:
http://www.helium.com/tm/135188

Answer 10

they have different skin