Once you know these differences, you’ll be able to easily distinguish the two. Color Differences Adult crocodiles are usually tan or brown, while the alligators typically have a color that is dark gray to black. Differences Between Alligators and Crocodiles Alligators have 75 teeth, while crocodile teeth number 24. Alligators and crocodiles are far from being known synonymously. So, what are the differences between caimans, alligators, and crocodiles? Alligators are shy animals and avoid humans, unlike crocodiles. Crocodiles have pointed V-shaped snouts. Imagine this, you are canoeing on a river during a sweltering afternoon, and you see what looks like a log floating around on murky waters. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes Caimans, Gharials and alligator. There is a difference between them that is distinct. The Florida Everglades is the only place on earth in which both alligators and crocodiles coexist. There are however a number of important differences which set these apex predators apart. “Adult American crocodiles are lighter in color than alligators, typically olive-gray, gray-brown or tannish-gray,” says Chris Scott in Endangered and Threatened Animals of Florida and Their Habitats.Adult alligators – although often depicted as green – are actually black. Alligators are dark colored with a broad, rounded snout and are usually found in fresh water. Crocodiles are highly carnivorous and formidable predators at the top of the food chain in their natural environments. The pits, which look like small dots, cover almost every inch of a crocodile's body, but only the jaws of an alligator. The main difference between the two animals involves the location of their native habitats. The large reptiles have many similarities, but their differences can be quite glaring when you know what to look for. There are different species of alligators and crocodiles. What are the differences between Alligators and Crocodiles? Crocodiles have long, narrow, V-shaped snouts, while those of alligators are wider and U-shaped. In addition, you can tell them apart by their sizes with the crocodiles being the bigger of the two. Each species is unique, so there are some exceptions to these common differences. There are many differences between alligators and crocodiles, but these two reptiles also have a lot in common. You can tell alligators and crocodiles apart mostly by the width of their snout. Location: Crocodiles exist both in freshwater and saltwater, whereas alligators prefer freshwater environments. The two living species are the American alligator. Crocodiles are grayish-green and prefer coastal, brackish and salt-water habitats. There are actually quite a number of big differences between crocodiles and alligators, making them quite easy to tell apart. Both these reptiles possess vast physical differences, among other aspects, that make it easier for us to identify them. 6. Have you ever wondered what the differences are between alligators and crocodiles? It can be difficult for inexperienced people to tell the difference between an American crocodile and the other native crocodilian, the more common American alligator. Crocodiles live longer than alligators. Crocodiles are large semi-aquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the America and Australia. One notable difference is located on the hind legs of both crocodiles and alligators. The key difference between a crocodile and an alligator lies in their physics appearance. The average lifespan of a crocodile is between 70-100 years, while the average lifespan of an alligator is usually between 30-50 years. How to tell the difference. 2. Key difference: Alligators are darker in color, nearly black with a u-shaped snout. However, each species is unique, and to list all the possible differences would be like comparing a jaguar with a lion. Most people confuse the alligators and crocodiles, as they are both huge, scaly lizards of prey. An Alligator will have a wide, broad nose while a crocodile will usually have a narrow nose. Alligator have webbed feet; crocodiles do not. Another difference of note between alligators and crocodiles is their coloring. From a distance, it’s not too difficult to tell the difference between alligator and crocodile simply by looking at the shape of the snout and the visibility of the teeth. They’re both toothy, water-dwelling beasties that seem to … American alligator . Alligators … The Appearance of an Alligator vs. a Crocodile. Though many people may think alligators and crocodiles are quite similar, they actually have a number of differences that clearly mark them as distinct species. Appearance: The most obvious difference comes from their appearances. Crocodiles hunt larger prey, such as sharks and large mammals such as buffaloes, apes, and even humans. A Newly Discovered Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles. These differences are indicative of the type of diet that each species favors. 4. An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae.The two extant species are the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis).Additionally, several extinct species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Coloring. Other differences: The above points are amongst the most obvious differences between crocodiles and alligators in terms of external appearance. Alligators are found in fresh water whereas crocodiles live in both fresh and salt water. Alligators are generally darker in color as well. Differences between Alligator and Crocodile Alligators and crocodiles are closely related, this explains why they look so similar. Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter. Typically, crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators, which makes crocodiles more dangerous than alligators. Crocodiles and alligators are both reptiles from the same order of animals, named Crocodylia. Crocodile and Alligator are often assumed to be the same as both are semi-aquatic reptiles. 5. Size. Check out the seven main differences between alligators and crocodiles below, along with a few interesting facts about the two of them! To most people, alligators and crocodiles look similar. The reason for these differences is found in their chosen habitat. One example is the Indian mugger crocodile, which has a wide jaw similar to an alligator but also has the prominent fourth tooth of a crocodile. So, there are some differences between Alligators VS Crocodiles, that we would like to call your attention. Crocodile‘s first recorded use was around 1250–1300, and it comes from the Greek krokódeilos (“crocodile”). At first glance, if you’ve ever seen an alligator or crocodile, they may look very similar. 3. Another difference is the shape of the teeth itself, where crocodiles have pointy teeth, alligators’ teeth are rounder. While Caimans live in the marshlands of Central America and South America, alligators can be found in only two places in the world; the Southeastern United States and eastern regions of China. Crocodiles have longer, pointier snouts; alligators have shorter, more rounded snouts. The following are some of the major differences between the two: The Chinese alligator is smaller, typically about 5 ft with a maximum length of about 7 ft. Crocodiles are the largest and heaviest of present-day reptiles. Caiman vs Alligator vs Crocodile. Differences in behaviour are also apparent. In terms of physical differences, observing the snout — the mouth and nose — is one of the simplest ways to distinguish between a crocodile and an alligator. Crocodiles have salt glands on their tongue, the excess salt in food and water leaves their body through these glands. Lifespan Crocodile:70-100yrs Alligator:30-50yrs Crocodiles tend to live more than alligators. The difference between alligators and crocodiles is often easy to spot once you get the hang of it. Found in swampy, humid areas, Crocodilians are cold blooded animals that can only survive in warm weather, usually around eighty degrees. Crocodiles tend to be more aggressive. Unless you work with them up close, you’d could be forgiven for thinking that alligators and crocodiles were one and the same! Additionally, several species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Crocodiles : Alligators: Crocodiles are mainly found in eastern-India, South-east Asia, and northern Australia. If you take an airboat tour of the Everglades with Everglades Holiday Park, the airboat captains may be able to point out some crocodiles they have seen for years and years. 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