What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?

Question

ok sat there watching tv and an animal programe comes on about crocodiles and my boyfriend asked whats the difference between them both. I dont know myself so i wanted to know if anyone out there does. Even though i know i could look it up on the internet i thought it would be more fun this way :)

Answer 1

It happens every time...

Time for a nose to tail tour of alligators and crocodiles!! YAY!!!

We're starting with the nostrils and working our way back. Here's a good website to find some pictures and follow along:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cnhc/csl.html

There are two species of alligator and 23 species of crocodile in the world (some people lump caimans with alligators, I lump them with crocodiles, either way).

Coloration, alligators are typically charcoal grey to black, crocodiles range anywhere from golden brown to olive drab.

Croc's nostrils sit on a single nasal disc alligators have separate nasal discs for each nostril.

Alligators have rounded blunt snouts, crocodiles -typically- have narrower, more slender snouts.

Alligators have sockets inside their upper jaw behind the teeth that the teeth on the lower jaw fit into, giving them somewhat of an overbite. Crocs have teeth sticking out all over the place, most prominently the fourth tooth on the lower jaw sticks up. (Caimans have teeth sticking out all over the damn place.)

(I hope no one ever has to use this identifying feature) The inside of an alligator's mouth is an almond color, the inside of a croc's mouth is orangish.

Alligators have golden eyes, crocs eyes are green.

The osteoderms, or scutes (bumps if you're that much of a layman) on an alligator's back are in straight rows, and do not spill over onto the sides or belly. Crocs on the other hand have more of a scattered scute pattern, and some species even have small osteoderms in the belly skin.

As the scutes come down onto the alligator or crocodile's tail, the croc is gonna look more like a '57 Chevy, the gator's gonna look like a '55.

Crocodiles have more webbing between their back toes as well.

I hope that's enough differences between alligators and crocodiles that you will be able to tell one from the other for the rest of your life.

Answer 2

I know that crocodiles get larger, and have a wider snout then the more narrow one of an alligator. Also i know the temper of a crocodile is much more angry then that of an alligator, and i think that crocodiles are a more dark brownish green color then the lighter green of an alligator.

Answer 3

Crocodiles are larger and more agressive and are found mainly in australia , asia and africa, a few on the southwest and southeast coast of North America, the worst ones are the saltwater crocs, there are also freshwater crocs not as agressive.

Alligators have a more blunt and or squared head and arent nearly agrresive as the others and are usually black in color although there are albinos but they dont live very long in the wild as other predators will gobble them up when they are born.

check out national geographic website.

Answer 4

Crocodile's teeth stick out and an alligators teeth stay inside the mouth!

Answer 5

This article should help:
"The difference between an alligator and a crocodile"
http://www.helium.com/tm/135188

Answer 6

The alligator has a wider snout and quiter dispostion compared to the crocodile.

Answer 7

hi i know crockodiles have narrower and smaller snouts then alligators and you can see teeth of the lower jaw when closed of a croc you can't a alligator and crocks stay in saltwater where alligators don't hope that helps

Answer 8

Easiest way to tell is to look at the snout. Not sure the actual differences in the creatures though.

Answer 9

crocodiles sometimes feature in kiddie books but alligators rarely
do

Answer 10

the alligator has a wider snout and they live in completely different places.