The 8 Main Differences Between Alligators and Crocodiles

Crocodiles are less able to survive in colder climates where water freezes, which is one reason they are much less common than alligators in the southeastern USA and are only found at the southernmost tip of Florida. They also tend to live in salt or brackish water - which is much less likely to freeze - especially in the subtropical and tropical climes where they usually live.

No, they can't. Although they look similar, they are genetically too far apart. Although related, they split into separate genera a long time ago.

The two reptiles are pretty evenly matched so the bigger one of the two would have the advantage. Alligators and crocodiles don't meet that often in the wild, however, as they only coexist in a small area at the southernmost tip of Florida, USA.

Although alligators and crocodiles can appear similar, they actually belong to separate species (Alligatoroidea and Crocodyloidea). There are a number of differences between them, including the shape of their snout, where they live, habitat, color, and size.

Although alligators were at one time endangered due to over-hunting, their numbers have increased dramatically in Florida since the 1970's. It's estimated that there are now between 1.3 million and 2 million alligators in the state, which means that there's one gator for every 10-15 Floridians.

Alligators were put the endangered species list and protected in the 60's and 70's, but taken off the list in 1987 after numbers were deemed to have recovered.

No, they are members of the order Crocodilia, which includes alligators, crocodiles, and caiman, but they are not a true crocodile.

There are two species of alligator, and neither live on or near the Amazon River. The most common species live in the southeastern part of the United States. The other species, which are critically endangered, live in eastern China.

Wild alligators have a natural fear of humans and will usually attempt to escape if approached. Alligators can lose their built-in fear if they become used to humans, however, which is why you should never feed wild alligators.

No, because although they might look fairly similar, they belong to separate species (Alligatoroidea and Crocodyloidea). This essentially means that they are too different genetically to produce children. So don't expect to see any "crocogators" soon!

They are most often found in tropical and subtropical climates.

This crocodile, also known informally as a "saltie," can be found throughout most of Southeast Asia, as far west as the eastern coast of India, and all the way down to northern Australia. Its scientific name is Crocodylus porosus. It lives in marine environments, as well as brackish waters. Along with the Nile crocodile, it is considered the most aggressive and dangerous type of crocodile.

Generally speaking, alligators are timid and afraid of humans. They will spend a lot of the daytime basking in the sun and in the night time they hunt. It's important to remember that they are reptiles and generally aren't as intelligent or emotionally complex as large mammals. They can spend long periods of time not moving, then suddenly burst into action.

No, they are wild animals who generally see humans as a threat.

The Philippines has a large and growing tourist industry with over 4 million visitors each year. Things to see include natural features, such as volcanoes, underground rivers, coastlines, beaches, and islands. There are some impressive rice terraces dug into mountainsides, as well as beautiful waterfalls. The country is famous for its incredible biodiversity and exotic sea and land life. There are plenty of great diving opportunities and mini-cruises to experience. You will also find many interesting museums, restaurants, street markets, and zoos to visit.

Yes, that can and does happen. They don't often attack humans, however, being instinctively afraid of them, and so fatalities are rare. They are most likely to attack small children who they can mistake for prey.

There is actually only one place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live side by side, that is the southernmost tip of Florida. The two animals don't usually fight, but crocodiles, as a species, are generally more aggressive.

Studies vary in their conclusions. Part of the problem is that there is no single accepted method for measuring bite power. It's likely that the alligator snout shape and bite is geared more towards cracking open turtle shells, which are a feature of their diet, so it wouldn't be surprising if they have a stronger bite, but this has never been conclusively proved.

These two species live in Australia and are often referred to as "freshies" and "salties" by locals. There are a number of ways to tell them apart. Firstly, the saltwater crocodile is much larger than its freshwater equivalent. Secondly, the snout shape is different, with freshwater crocs having longer, thinner snouts. Thirdly, the freshwater crocodiles have an even jawline with generally smaller teeth, whereas the saltwater has an uneven jawline and the teeth size varies, with some teeth much bigger than others. Both crocodiles are potentially dangerous to humans, but saltwater crocs are especially aggressive.

No, adult American alligators can be brown, olive, grey, or virtually black and their undersides are creamy. Their color is influenced by their habitat.

An adult male American alligator typically measures somewhere between 11 and 15 ft (3.4 and 4.6 m) in length, and weigh up to 1,000 lb (453 kg). Females alligators are smaller, and usually range between 8.5 and 9.8 ft, or (2.6 and 3 m) in length.

The saltwater crocodile is the largest and most aggressive type of crocodile. They are also the largest living reptile. They can be found in southeast Asia and on the northern coast of Australia.

Crocodiles and alligators are both members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes caiman.

Yes, you can. Alligators were considered endangered at one time, but after their numbers made a dramatic recovery, the species were removed from the endangered species list in 1987. Alligators are now farmed for meat, leather, and other goods.

Despite the difference of snout shape, the jaws do open in a similar way. There has been much research into which animal has the most powerful bite. Recent experiments seem to show that it's generally the size of the animal that dictates how strong its bite is, rather than whether it is a crocodile or alligator.

There have been a number of studies on this, and there is no total agreement. Part of the problem is that there are different ways to measure bite strength. Currently, the general opinion is that the size of the animal is the deciding factor, regardless of whether it is an alligator or crocodile. The bigger crocodile species will therefore tend to have stronger bites than alligators, but it depends on the relative sizes of the actual animals being compared.

The preferred method for alligators to catch prey is to ambush animals at the water's edge and drag them into the water. However, adults will sometimes venture up to 170 feet (50 m) from water to look for prey. They will wait by trail sides and then stage an ambush on passing animals.

Attacks are possible if the crocodile believes that its young or itself are being threatened, but the chances of it happening are likely rarer than you think. One reason being that crocodiles and alligators rarely encounter each other in the wild, as they only live together in southern Florida. The Florida alligators live in freshwater and occasionally brackish water, generally rivers, lakes, and swampy areas. Crocodiles like saltwater and brackish areas and can usually be found near the Florida coast. Unlike Australian and Nile crocodiles, the Florida crocodiles are fairly small and shy.

Alligators and caimans belong to the same family, alligatoridae, and therefore have a lot of similarities, but they are separate species. In total there are 23 crocodilian species.

Yes.

Alligators are less aggressive than most species of crocodile, certainly towards humans.