Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Crocodiles vs. Alligators

There are a few key differences between alligators and crocodiles that make them easily distinguishable.

First of all, Crocodiles and Alligators are part of 2 separate families, Crocodylidae and Alligatoridae respectively.

Crocodiles have a long, narrow, V-Shaped snout. Alligators have a wider. U-Shaped snout:

The alligator's wider snout allows for more crushing power; strong enough to crack turtle shells. The crocodile's narrow snout is less equipped for cracking turtle shells, but still very powerful, capable of bite strengths of 5,000 lbs/square inch.

Another difference between alligators and crocodiles is the presence or absence of viewable teeth. Crocodile's top and bottom teeth are viewable from the side, whereas alligator's bottom teeth are not.



In general, alligators are smaller and more docile, if you consider 14 feet small compared to the 19 feet of a crocodile, which are comparatively more aggressive.

Alligators which appear black are generally darker than crocodiles, which have an olive brown hide.

4 comments:

  1. Why aren't the names switched? I mean, when you look at a crocodile from the top view, it's snout is shaped more like an "A" whereas an alligator's snout from the top view is shaped more like a "C." I feel like it would make more sense the other way around.

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  2. I agree with fabulous1singer. That's exactly what I was thinking when I was trying to come up with a trick to remember what name went with which creature. Now I'll just have to think the opposite! The one that has an A framed snout is a croc, the one with a C shape is an alligator. I guess that is a good trick too, just think "opposite".

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  3. I'm glad you changed your article! When you originally were explaining a croc had an A shaped snout ... It made things a little more difficult to try and keep straight which was which. It's funny how the brain works sometimes trying to make connections when there are none, to make learning easier but somehow becomes more complicated in the end. All by the suggestion of one little letter!

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  4. Thanks for that! Nice and simply explained with great pics.

    Just a note from a stickler, like myself...though obvious from the picture, perhaps you could tag on at the end of "Another difference between alligators and crocodiles is the presence or absence of viewable teeth:"

    "when the mouth is closed."

    Cheers again!

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