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| Dear Yahoo!: |
| What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? |
Ronnie-Jo
Bayonne, New Jersey |
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| Dear Ronnie-Jo: |
A classic question! Fortunately, a quick investigation of our very own Crocodiles and Alligators category reveals several differences between alligators and crocodiles: - You can't see an alligator's teeth when it's mouth is closed; its lower teeth fit snugly into pits in the upper jaw. In contrast, a crocodile's lower teeth are always visible.
- Alligators have a broad snout, while crocodiles have a thinner snout.
- Alligators tend to be grayish
black in color, whereas crocodiles have a light tan appearance.
- Alligators can only be found in the southeastern United States and in some parts of China. Crocodiles can be found all over the world.
- In the wild, alligators tend to run away. While not exactly wallflowers, they certainly prefer their own company. Some species of crocodiles, on the other hand, have legendary tempers. The Salt Water Crocodile and the Nile Crocodile have been known to eat people.
Obviously, these two creatures have more in common than not. Alligators, caimans, crocodiles, and gharials
are all referred to as crocodilians, and the last 25 years have been very kind to them. Thanks to conservation efforts and threatened animal legislation, 16 of the 23 species have been returned to sustainable population levels.
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