Once you know these differences, you’ll be able to easily distinguish the two. Coloring. Crocodiles are grayish-green and prefer coastal, brackish and salt-water habitats. Crocodiles have long, narrow, V-shaped snouts, while those of alligators are wider and U-shaped. Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter. Another difference of note between alligators and crocodiles is their coloring. In addition, you can tell them apart by their sizes with the crocodiles being the bigger of the two. The following are some of the major differences between the two: Crocodiles and alligators are both reptiles from the same order of animals, named Crocodylia. So, what are the differences between caimans, alligators, and crocodiles? The pits, which look like small dots, cover almost every inch of a crocodile's body, but only the jaws of an alligator. Crocodiles are large semi-aquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the America and Australia. Alligators and crocodiles are far from being known synonymously. There are actually quite a number of big differences between crocodiles and alligators, making them quite easy to tell apart. Crocodiles live longer than alligators. Unless you work with them up close, you’d could be forgiven for thinking that alligators and crocodiles were one and the same! The two living species are the American alligator. At first glance, if you’ve ever seen an alligator or crocodile, they may look very similar. Differences Between Alligators and Crocodiles Appearance: The most obvious difference comes from their appearances. Differences between crocodiles and alligators. Although both alligators and crocodiles are crocodilians, they are two distinctly different reptiles. Most people confuse the alligators and crocodiles, as they are both huge, scaly lizards of prey. Alligators are shy animals and avoid humans, unlike crocodiles. And an alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. The key differences between a Crocodile and an Alligator are shown by the below Crocodile vs Alligator table. 6. 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. There are a handful of differences between Alligators and Crocodiles, especially in appearance. Alligators first appeared during the Oligocene epoch about 37 million years ago. “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. Typically, crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators, which makes crocodiles more dangerous than alligators. Crocodiles have pointed V-shaped snouts. A Newly Discovered Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles. Alligators are found in fresh water whereas crocodiles live in both fresh and salt water. The large reptiles have many similarities, but their differences can be quite glaring when you know what to look for. 4. Differences in behaviour are also apparent. What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Crocodile & Alligator Differences. These differences are indicative of the type of diet that each species favors. 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. The American Alligator can only be found within the United States whereas the American Crocodile is more common in countries to the south. 3. What are the differences between Alligators and Crocodiles? Thus, it's easy to spot the differences between crocodile and alligator … Crocodiles have longer, pointier snouts; alligators have shorter, more rounded snouts. An Alligator will have a wide, broad nose while a crocodile will usually have a narrow nose. Whereas, crocodiles are a light tan or olive green in color with a v-shaped snout that is longer and narrow in front. The reason for these differences is found in their chosen habitat. Crocodiles tend to be more aggressive. Alligators are generally darker in color as well. To begin with, they belong to different taxonomic families altogether, and this is only the classification part of it. 2. 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. Differences between Alligator and Crocodile Alligators and crocodiles are closely related, this explains why they look so similar. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes Caimans, Gharials and alligator. The average lifespan of a crocodile is between 70-100 years, while the average lifespan of an alligator is usually between 30-50 years. Alligators have 75 teeth, while crocodile teeth number 24. 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. Alligator have webbed feet; crocodiles do not. One notable difference is located on the hind legs of both crocodiles and alligators. They have a … Color Differences Adult crocodiles are usually tan or brown, while the alligators typically have a color that is dark gray to black. Lifespan Crocodile:70-100yrs Alligator:30-50yrs Crocodiles tend to live more than alligators. Both these reptiles possess vast physical differences, among other aspects, that make it easier for us to identify them. Each species is unique, so there are some exceptions to these common differences. To most people, alligators and crocodiles look similar. Another difference is the shape of the teeth itself, where crocodiles have pointy teeth, alligators’ teeth are rounder. Alligator Crocodile Difference. So, there are some differences between Alligators VS Crocodiles, that we would like to call your attention. Additionally, several species of alligator are known from fossil remains. Differences Between Crocodiles and Alligators. There are different species of alligators and crocodiles. Alligators are dark colored with a broad, rounded snout and are usually found in fresh water. Read on to find out what some of these differences are while enjoying all … 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. Key difference: Alligators are darker in color, nearly black with a u-shaped snout. 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’re both toothy, water-dwelling beasties that seem to … The key difference between a crocodile and an alligator lies in their physics appearance. Alligators and crocodiles, both commonly known as crocodilians, are some of the most powerful and intriguing creatures on the planet. The difference between alligators and crocodiles is often easy to spot once you get the hang of it. The main difference between the two animals involves the location of their native habitats. Crocodiles and alligators might be similar in that they both have big mouths with sharp teeth, thick scales, and lots of strength, but its important to know the major differences between these two animals. Crocodiles have salt glands on their tongue, the excess salt in food and water leaves their body through these glands. However, each species is unique, and to list all the possible differences would be like comparing a jaguar with a lion. 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. Found in swampy, humid areas, Crocodilians are cold blooded animals that can only survive in warm weather, usually around eighty degrees. Alligators have a more blackish grayish color and crocodiles tend to have a more light tan appearance. While they do share many of the same features, they couldn’t be any more different to a trained professional. How to tell the difference. Crocodiles are highly carnivorous and formidable predators at the top of the food chain in their natural environments. 5. Size. Crocodiles : Alligators: Crocodiles are mainly found in eastern-India, South-east Asia, and northern Australia. The average lifespan of an alligator is about thirty to fifty years and the average lifespan of a crocodile is about seventy to hundred years. Caiman vs Alligator vs Crocodile. Crocodiles hunt larger prey, such as sharks and large mammals such as buffaloes, apes, and even humans. The Difference Between Alligators and Crocodiles. There is a difference between them that is distinct. There are many differences between alligators and crocodiles, but these two reptiles also have a lot in common. There are however a number of important differences which set these apex predators apart. 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. Differences Between Crocodiles and Alligators. Crocodile‘s first recorded use was around 1250–1300, and it comes from the Greek krokódeilos (“crocodile”). The Appearance of an Alligator vs. a Crocodile. 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. Speed Crocodile:28-34km/h Alligator:20 mph Another distinguishing feature between the crocodile and alligator is their color. Location: Crocodiles exist both in freshwater and saltwater, whereas alligators prefer freshwater environments. American alligator . Have you ever wondered what the differences are between alligators and crocodiles? The American alligator is the larger of the two species of alligator and typically ranges from 6-12 ft but can grow up to 19 ft. Alligators … The Florida Everglades is the only place on earth in which both alligators and crocodiles coexist. 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. 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