Introduction
Alligators (or gators) and Crocodiles are semi-aquatic reptiles. They are so similar at first glance that people confuse one for the other. American alligators (remember that gator in Jumanji?) and the Chinese alligators are the only types of extant (existing) species of alligators. On the other hand, so many types of crocodiles are prevalent throughout Africa, Asia, America, and Australia. Gators and crocodiles belong to different biological families.
Crocodiles are carnivorous animals that feed on fish, birds, mammals, and sometimes on mollusks or crustaceans. Many species of crocodiles are critically endangered. The word crocodile was derived from the Greek word krokódilos, which means lizard. Crocodiles are skilled predators. They have webbed feet that help them make fast turns in the water. Moreover, crocodiles are older than alligators; that is, the former’s ancestry can be traced back centuries more than the latter’s ancestry.
Alligators are black or dark-olive brown, but their undersides are either white or cream. They usually try to avoid interactions with humans. Alligators are prone to attack humans only when guarding their eggs or young ones (apparently, mama bears are not the only ones to watch out for) or needlessly provoked. Alligator skin has commercial value, as it can be used for producing various fashion articles like shoes, handbags, belts, and so on. Moreover, in some parts of the world, alligator meat is consumed.
Alligator Vs. Crocodile
Alligators have wider snouts and duller teeth than crocodiles. They are found only in US and China, whereas crocodiles are nightmares that persist throughout the world. Crocodiles live in freshwater and brackish water, while alligators are found in freshwater.
Difference Between Alligator And Crocodile In Tabular Form
| Parameters Of Comparison | Alligator | Crocodile |
| Snout | A gator’s snout is wider and U-shaped. | A crocodile’s snout is V-shaped and pointed. |
| Color | A gator’s body color (Dark green or black) is darker than crocodiles and helps them blend with the muddy background. | Mostly light grey, but maybe light green or brown. |
| Size | Alligators are smaller compared to crocodiles. The maximum length a gator can reach is about 14 feet. | Crocodiles are several feet longer than alligators, as their maximum length is 19 feet. The smallest crocodiles are 16 feet on average. |
| Bite | A gator uses its teeth to crush its prey. It has cone-shaped teeth that facilitate this process; therefore, its bite is not as powerful as a crocodile’s. | A crocodile’s bite is far more powerful than an alligator's, as it has pointy teeth. |
| Habitat | Alligators are found in freshwater habitats. Alligators tend to stay closer to river banks. | Crocodiles are capable of living in freshwater and saltwater. |
| Speed | Alligators are faster than crocodiles on land and water. | Crocodiles are slightly slower than alligators. |
| Behavior | Gators are less aggressive than crocodiles. They attack only when provoked. | Crocodiles are aggressive creatures. They are not to be messed with. Crocodiles attack anything that moves and is within reach. |
| Sensitivity to cold | Alligators are more resistant to cold temperatures and are known to survive at 79 degrees Fahrenheit. | Though cold-blooded, crocodiles need a higher temperature to survive. |
What Is An Alligator?
Alligators are reptiles that live in freshwater rivers, ponds, and lakes. Some can be found in wetlands and marshes. Their diet consists of large fish, turtles, muskrats, birds, deer, and various mammals. They exhibit unidirectional (one-way) breathing as opposed to the usual bidirectional (two-way) breathing of most creatures. They have wide shovel-lie snouts that help distinguish them from crocodiles.
If alligators fast for a long time during brumation (a stage in their life cycle when they stop growing and become dormant), they consume their fat reserves until they can find sufficiently satisfying prey. This process, known as autophagy, helps them maintain their body weight. Chinese alligators brumate in their holes in winter. Though the average lifespan of a gator is unknown, the oldest known alligator was in its 80s when it died.
Alligators target prey that can be killed with a single bite. If the target is a larger animal, they drown it after dragging it to the nearest water body. Alternatively, they bite the target and execute a death roll (much worse than having one’s sibling doing their best to smother one with a pillow) to kill them. That is why humans should be cautious around gators. Alligators are territorial creatures that are dangerous once they get over their fear of humans.
Types Of Alligators
American alligators and Chinese alligators are the only living species of alligators.
American Alligators
They are the largest alligators and are about 11 – 15 feet in length. American alligators inhabit tropical and subtropical freshwater marshes or swamps. While hatchlings prefer to hunt invertebrates, adults prey on amphibians, mammals, fish, and birds. Males use infrasound (sound waves with a low frequency inaudible to humans) to attract a potential mate. Alligator bites may be fatal to humans, as the risk of infection is high.
Some people believe these alligators grow throughout its life (indeterminate growth). These alligators move on land either by sprawling (crawling on their belly) or walking (they lift their belly above the ground). American alligators are most commonly found in the Southeastern United States. They like to bask in the sun on shorelines. Also, these gators are the official state reptile of Florida.
Chinese Alligators
Chinese alligators or muddy dragons (cool name, right?) can be seen only in China. They are 5 – 7 feet in length and are black or dark grey. These gators feed on snails, mussels, crustaceans, aquatic birds, and so on. Young alligators produce sounds (danger calls) to alert their parents when in danger. Muddy dragons became an endangered species due to humans hunting them and the loss of habitat. Some writers believe that the Chinese alligators inspired the creation of the Chinese Dragon myth.
White Alligators
These alligators are not a species but a type classified based on their unusual color. White alligators are rare and it is extremely challenging to find them in the wild. The two types of white alligators are albino and leucistic. The albinos are white because of a lack of melanin, whereas leucistic alligators have a condition that causes partial discoloration/loss of pigment.
What Is A Crocodile?
Crocodiles are aggressive creatures. Moreover, they are polyphyodonts, that is their teeth are continuously replaced. Crocodiles are more closely related to dinosaurs than to other reptiles. They can lie submerged in water hidden from prey and have exemplary night vision. A crocodile’s sense of smell, too, is superior; they can detect where the carcass of a dead animal is from far away. Typically, crocodiles wait for their prey to come close before attacking them or sometimes, they steal from other predators. They are capable of surviving without food for long periods.
The teeth of crocodiles are more suited for piercing rather than tearing into flesh. However, this is an advantage to the crocodiles, as it minimizes the chance of their prey escaping. If the prey’s flesh tears, there is a possibility that it may escape before the next bite. It is believed that crocodiles may have the ability to travel to their home territory through unfamiliar territories (homing instincts). Saltwater crocodiles are the most territorial among the crocodile species.
Crocodiles are more vocal that all other reptiles. Their vocalizations include chirping (the young ones chirp when they are about to hatch), distress calls, threat calls (sounds like a hiss or a cough), and bellows. Crocodiles are intelligent and observe the patterns their prey follow. Later, they use this knowledge to attack them (similar to how assassins observe their target before they ‘hit’ the target). Saltwater crocodiles, Nile crocodiles, American crocodiles, and Mugger crocodiles are the most dangerous species known to attack humans. In some countries, humans consider crocodile meat a delicacy (tit for tat!).
The term ‘crocodile tears’ is derived from an ancient story that crocodiles cried for the victims they lured into their territory. That is why crocodile tears are refers to the false, insincere tears of a hypocrite. However, crocodiles can indeed generate tears, but they do not cry.
Types Of Crocodiles
Eighteen crocodile species are prevalent at present. Some of the well-known types of crocodiles are:
American Crocodile
They prefer brackish (a mix of salt and freshwater) and are found throughout the Caribbean. American crocodiles are not highly aggressive, but they are still dangerous to humans. They prey on any aquatic or terrestrial animal they come across; bass, mullet, and large crabs are their preferred prey. These crocodiles sometimes prey on lemon sharks, too.
Nile Crocodile
These crocodiles live in marshlands, swamps, rivers, and so on. Nile crocodiles are the second largest known reptile. They are capable of waiting for even weeks to attack their prey at the right moment (a whole new level of commitment to a task!). They are somewhat social creatures and do not mind sharing basking spots. These crocodiles can die if they are left in the sweltering sun with their jaws bound. Nile crocodiles can swim underwater for 30 minutes.
Mugger Crocodile
The mugger or marsh crocodiles are protected species in India, Iran, and Sri Lanka. They have the broadest snout among the crocodile species. A mugger crocodile spends most of its time submerged in water. Their diet consists of fish, birds, turtles, monkeys, squirrels, etc. These crocodiles are intelligent enough to use lures to trap birds.
Saltwater Crocodile
Saltwater crocodiles are the largest reptiles and pose a serious threat to humans. These crocodiles inhabit swamps with brackish water and freshwater rivers. Most crocodiles go out to sea except on certain occasions; however, saltwater crocodiles thrive in saltwater. Typically, these crocodiles are lethargic or inactive, which helps them to go without food for months at a time if the need arises. But they are incredibly agile when hunting.
No living animal can match a saltwater crocodile’s bite force. They are highly aggressive and attack even if someone unknowingly enters their territory. Therefore, it is best to avoid going near their habitats or territories.
Main Difference Between Alligator And Crocodile In Points
- Crocodiles have salt glands on their tongue that help them excrete excess salt. Though alligators have these glands they either do not function or excrete only a negligible amount of salt.
- A gator’s snout aids its hunting and eating process, especially to break open turtle shells. Crocodiles have snouts that are better suited for piercing the prey’s flesh rather than crushing it.
- In the US, alligators are formidable in number compared to crocodiles. The former’s population is in the millions, whereas only a few thousand of the latter can be found.
- None of an alligator’s teeth is visible when it keeps its mouth closed (like a tight-lipped human), as its upper jaw is wider than its lower jaw. However, a crocodile looks like it's grinning (do not approach it, it does not matter that it resembles one’s devilish sibling. Crocodiles are opportunistic predators).
- A gator’s body color depends on where it swims. Swimming in water with abundant algae causes their skin to become greener, and tannic acid makes it darker. The water a crocodile swims in does not affect its body color.
- The webbed feet of crocodiles help them make faster turns in the water, whereas an alligator’s webbed feet help it to propel water and swim faster.
- A crocodile can move at the rate of 9 miles per hour when on land or sea. On the other hand, an alligator can move at the speed of 11 mph on land and 20 mph at sea.
- Crocodiles cause more death among humans than alligators, because of their bad temper.
Conclusion
Whether people spot an alligator or a crocodile, it is best to give them a wide berth. Trying to get a closer look to determine whether it is the former or the latter is not advisable. After all, if it is indeed a crocodile the meeting will not be a pleasant one! Who wants to get bit by one? Alligators may be less aggressive and may run away from humans; however, if they attack, people won’t be able to think beyond the pain caused when the gators snap their jaws on their thighs. Alligators’ teeth are not pointy, but their jaws are powerful, and people do not want to lose function in their legs, do they?
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocodile#Species
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_crocodile
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltwater_crocodile
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugger_crocodile
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile_crocodile
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_alligator
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator#
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator_sinensis
- https://a-z-animals.com/blog/alligator-vs-crocodile-key-differences/
- https://www.everythingreptiles.com/alligator-vs-crocodile/
- https://owlcation.com/stem/Whats-the-difference-between-alligators-and-crocodiles