The truth is that you are more likely to be killed by a dog, bee or wasp stings, a spider bite, rattlesnake, mountain lion, or shark. Answer: 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. It's plain out silly. Paul Goodman (author) from Florida USA on April 08, 2011: Thank you very much for your kind words and the podcast feature, Simone. The snout of the crocodiles is long narrow and V-shaped while the snout f the alligator is wide and U shaped. The energy drink contains no actual alligators. 15 September 2012. Crocodiles have special glands in their tongues which excrete excess salt from their bodies. THANK YOU!!! Question: It used to be possible to buy cowboy boots made from alligator leather, is this still true? The Florida Everglades is the only place on earth in which both alligators and crocodiles coexist. Crocodiles have salt glands on their tongue, the excess salt in food and water leaves their body through these glands. This difference explains why crocodiles have managed to spread across the islands of the Caribbean, and alligators haven't. A crocodile’s snout is longer and more narrow. I have now replaced it! Alligators are fast, got chased by one while on bike. Alligators' main distinguishing feature is their wide, U-shaped snouts, which help them crack through tough shells of prey. Because they are broader, alligator snouts are stronger than crocodile snouts, which allow them to crush hard shelled prey such as turtles. Although smaller in size, a crocodile is perceived to be more aggressive than your average alligator. Which species is hunted for its meat and by whom? The most common species live in the southeastern part of the United States. Question: Why are there no more alligators in Flordia? Helped me a lot with my speech for school, thank you! Answer: No, they are members of the order Crocodilia, which includes alligators, crocodiles, and caiman, but they are not a true crocodile. Alligators are now farmed for meat, leather, and other goods. One of the most obvious differences between alligators and crocodiles is the shape of the snout. This means that they are capable of spending days, or even weeks, at sea. Crocodiles are an olive brown shade, while alligators … I always wondered what the difference was! I explore each of these differences in more detail below. Can an alligator and a crocodile breed to make a "crocogator"? Since the year 2000, there have been 33 human fatalities caused by American gators and crocodiles combined compared to 268 caused by Nile crocodiles alone. Tom Mukasa from Lives in USA on November 11, 2013: Thanks. In the US, you are more likely to be attacked by an alligator than a crocodile, although attacks by either are very rare. That means on average, one person dies every three years. that was by animaljokes.com. Alligators and crocodiles are also slightly different colors. can a male Croc or gator kill their females for food? Alligators can lose their built-in fear if they become used to humans, however, which is why you should never feed wild alligators. Not sure what metric you are using for comparison but as far as pure strength is concerned, Crocs have a stronger bite than gators--as long as you are comparing similar size specimens. Follow Life's Little Mysteries on Twitter @llmysteries. Crocodiles tend to have a lighter appearance than alligators. An alligator’s snout is broader, more rounded, and U shaped, whilst the crocodile’s snout is longer, narrower, more pointed and V shaped. When an alligator has its mouth shut, you won’t see any of its teeth. Answer: The Philippines has a large and growing tourist industry with over 4 million visitors each year. I can't believe anyone could not see the difference between a mean ol croc and an alligator mate'. The Australian range of the Saltie is very sparsely populated by humans - but a few get taken every year anyway (mostly tourists - who think they are in Europe or that a croc will act like a 'gator - it's amazing how many people think that "if they leave a saltie alone - it will leave them alone"). Visit our corporate site. American crocodiles, on the other hand, are one of the more timid types that you will find and rarely attack humans. Color Differences. Part of the problem is that there are different ways to measure bite strength. I 've some doubts about them that were cleared now. peachy from Home Sweet Home on January 09, 2015: thanks for telling us the differences. Upon closer inspection, not recommended out in the wild, you'd spot glaring differences: They belong to the subgroup Eusuchia, which includes about 22 species divided into three families: the fish-eating gavials or gharials, which belong to the Gavialidae; today's crocodiles or the Crocodylidae; and the Alligatoridae, or alligators. Thanks once again for throwing more light on the Alligator and Crocodile. just a few things are in my mind just I would like to ask .. how can one determine whether it's a male or female? Question: In which climate are crocodiles and alligators most often found? Size. The color of a gator's hide varies according to the water it swims in. I never knew that there was a difference! Alligators have a wide, rounded, "U"-shaped snouts with larger noses, whereas crocodiles have longer, thinner, pointed "V"-shaped snouts and smaller noses. An alligator’s snout is shorter and wider than that of a crocodile. Crocodiles have longer, pointier snouts; alligators have shorter, more rounded snouts. Head Shape. Crocodiles have interlocking teet… The main difference between crocodiles and alligators is that they belong to different scientific families, Crocodylidae, and Alligatoridae respectively. If I see either one,though, I'm running away! There are a number of differences between them, including the shape of their snout, where they live, habitat, color, and size. Answer: Although alligators and crocodiles can appear similar, they actually belong to separate species (Alligatoroidea and Crocodyloidea). Crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators. Wow. Answer: There is actually only one place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live side by side, that is the southernmost tip of Florida. We have Lake Kariba which is a fresh water lake. When alligators have algae growth on their skin, they will appear more greenish. You helped me a lot!!! This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Are there more males than females or vice versa for the alligators and the crocodiles? A young alligator by the water in Florida. 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. Alligators. Lastly, in terms of aggression, crocodiles would still win, as they are much more aggressive and likely to attack, even if unprovoked. I had just seen the pic of the alligator and crocodile in my textbook and I think that, what will be the differences between them ? In contrast, when a crocodile has its mouth shut, its back teeth stick up over the top lip, showing off a toothy grin. If you are in the US, then you are far more likely to encounter an alligator than a crocodile. 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