How do you tell the difference between a crocodile and alligator?

How do you tell the difference between a crocodile and alligator?

Physical Differences

  • Snout Shape: Alligators have a wide, rounded, u-shaped snout, while crocodiles have long, pointed, v-shaped snouts.
  • Jawline: Alligators have a wide upper jaw, which allows for the teeth to remain hidden in the mouth.
  • Size and Weight: Both alligators and crocodiles are massive reptiles.

Can you tell a gator from a croc answer key?

An alligator’s wider upper jaw overlaps its lower jaw when it closes its mouth. Because of this its teeth don’t show. A crocodile’s upper and lower jaw, however, are about the same width. So when a crocodile closes its mouth some of its teeth still show.

Which has a bigger nose alligator or crocodile?

One of the most obvious differences between alligators and crocodiles is the shape of the snout. An alligator’s snout is broader, more rounded, and U shaped, whilst the crocodile’s snout is longer, narrower, more pointed and V shaped. The crocodile (left) has a longer, pointed v shaped snout than the alligator.

Can an alligator crush a human skull?

“Saltwater crocs have the strongest recorded bite force of any animal on the planet — [the] kind of force can easily crush a human skull,” Frost said.

Which is bigger a croc or alligator?

Crocodiles also tend to be longer than they alligator full grown. An adult crocodile can grow up to roughly 19 feet long, whereas for alligators, the maximum length is around 14 feet. Crocodile hides tend to be more of a light tan or olive color, whereas alligators are usually a dark blackish grey.

Which is better alligator or crocodile?

Crocodiles are better adapted to living in seawater. Crocodiles are more aggressive than alligators. Crocodiles tend to have a lighter appearance than alligators. Crocodiles in the wild are found all over the world while alligators are only found in the US and China.

How are alligators different from crocodiles?

Look at the snout. The easiest way to tell the difference between crocodiles and alligators is to look at their snouts. Alligators have a wide, rounded, “U”-shaped snouts with larger noses, whereas crocodiles have longer, thinner, pointed “V”-shaped snouts and smaller noses.

Are crocodiles and alligators the same thing?

Family. Alligators and crocodiles are from the same scientific order, but from different families. They are both members of the Crocodylia, but crocodiles are from the Crocodylidae family, while alligators come from the Alligatordae family.

What’s bigger alligator or crocodile?

Size An adult crocodile can grow up to roughly 19 feet long, whereas for alligators, the maximum length is around 14 feet. Alligators can often reach at least 14 or 15 feet in length, which is larger than some crocodile species, but not bigger than the largest of crocodiles.