10 Difference Between Alligator vs Crocodile

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between alligators and crocodiles? Here we distinguish 10 main differences between these two massive and terrifying water dwelling lizards.

1. Scientific classification

The term “crocodile” refers to any species belonging to the Crocodilia order. However, true crocodiles belong to the Crocodylinae subfamily; other families in the order Crocodilia include Alligatoridae and Gavialidae.

Alligators belong to the Alligatoridae family; consequently, they are only a family within the broader group of crocodiles, since this latter term can define a grouping of different species. In other words, alligators can be called crocodiles, but not all so-called crocodiles are alligators.

2. Behavior

Alligators, while definitely dangerous, are relatively timid compared to crocodiles. An alligator will generally try to escape if approached by humans, usually heading for the nearest water. Alligators are instinctively afraid of humans but can lose some of that fear with regular contact.

Except in controlled conditions, feeding them is almost always a bad idea as they will lose some of their fear and see humans as a source of food.

They can also mistake small children and pet dogs for prey. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are much more bad-tempered and far more likely to attack humans, even unprovoked.

Australian saltwater crocodiles are generally considered the most dangerous in the world, followed by Nile crocodiles. American crocodiles, on the other hand, are one of the more timid types that you will find and rarely attack humans.3. Speed.

Both can move quickly on land, but only for short distances. They can both “gallop” or “sprint” but only do so when threatened, and for short periods of time.

A crocodile can reach speeds of up almost 9 mph, while an alligator reaches a maximum speed of about 11 mph. When crocodiles swim, they might reach speeds of about 9 mph, while alligators can reach a maximum of 20 mph.

4. Color

Crocodile hides tend to be more of a light tan or olive color, whereas alligators are usually a dark blackish grey.

The exact shade of an alligator skin depends on the quality of the water it swims in. Tannic acid from overhanging trees will make them darker while, algae will make them greener).

5. 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.

The largest crocodile species is the saltwater crocodile, which can get to at least 17 or 18 feet – some rare individuals exceeding 20 feet after many years. The African dwarf crocodile, as a contrast, doesn’t grow larger than 4 or 5 feet.

6. Their Teeth

Crocodiles can’t hide their teeth, but alligators’ teeth are sometimes hidden when their mouths are closed.

When their mouths are closed, the snouts of alligators and crocodiles are easy to tell apart, as the alligator will have none of its bottom teeth visible, whereas the crocodile’s lower teeth are always visible.

7. Habitat

Crocodiles prefer water that is more saline or salty than the alligator’s preferred freshwater habitat.

Crocodiles have special glands in their tongues which excrete excess salt from their bodies. This means that they are capable of spending days, or even weeks, at sea.

8. Location

Alligators live only in the southeastern US and eastern China, whereas crocodiles can be found across the world in Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia, North America, South America, and Central America.

Although there is an American crocodile species, they only live in the southernmost tip of Florida, whereas alligators can be found across Florida and Louisiana, as well as in parts of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

There are over 3 million alligators, but fewer than 2,000 crocodiles. Southern Florida is the only place in the world where you will find crocodiles and alligators living side by side.

9. Shape of the Snout

An alligator’s’ snout is is broader and shaped like a U, whereas the crocodile’s is longer, narrower and more V-shaped.It’s very possible that the alligator’s snout is shaped differently because of diet.

10. Bones

Researchers from Japan have identified what they believe to be another feature that sets the two reptiles apart: Alligators tend to have shorter humerus bones in their forelimbs and shorter femurs in their hind limbs than crocodiles.

Masaya Iijima, a vertebrate paleontologist from Hokkaido University in Japan and lead author on the study, measured more than 120 alligator and crocodile skeletons from nearly a dozen museums across the world. Then he analyzed the results using a statistical model.