While many people use the words ‘croc’ and ‘gator’ interchangeably, the two are actually rather separate species. Crocodiles and alligators are both members of the reptilian order Crocodylia. Both reptiles are great hunters with excellent eyesight and a strong sense of smell, and their diet is varied depending on their location. Each has teeth that are used especially for spearing their prey; neither crocodiles nor alligators chew their food, but instead will swallow large chunks or even a whole animal.
These similarities between the two species are often to blame for the lack of distinction, but they do have defining characteristics that identify them as separate from the other. Here are just a few simple differences that will help you tell them apart.
For starters, there are differences in appearance between a crocodile and an alligator. Crocodiles have a green-grey hide, whereas alligators are typically dark grey to black. Each begins life with markings that make for even easier identification: the crocodile with dark stripes on a light hide and the alligator with yellow stripes on a dark hide. While the stripes fade as they mature, the shade of the hide remains the same.
Alligators have a larger snout than crocodiles. Its rounder and broader snout makes the jaws much stronger than that of a crocodile. Though crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators, they are unable to match the crushing strength of an alligator, due to their narrowed, tapered snout.
A key difference between crocodiles and alligators is the environment in which they live. Crocodiles are found all over the world and are better adapted to living in seawater, though there are freshwater species. Alligators, however, are only found in North America and China and tend to favor fresh water. Unless you are at a zoo, it is unlikely that you would ever run into an alligator and a crocodile in the same place!
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Featured Image from Balaji Malliswamy/Unsplash
