Let's figure out how the crocodile differs from the alligator

Alligator and crocodile belong to the number of ancient inhabitants of our planet. They are even older than dinosaurs. Reptiles, scientists believe, appeared on Earth about 200 million years ago. In the process of evolution, the appearance of these reptiles did not change much. To date, the family of reptiles has 20 species.

It should be noted that for most of the inhabitants of all reptiles "one face": very few people know what makes a crocodile from an alligator. If you are one of them, and you are interested in this question, then this article is for you.

Kinds

All the alligators and crocodiles, along with their relatives - gavials and caimans, belong to the Crocodylia squad. They differ in spindle-shaped body shape, protective armor from corneal shields, huge powerful jaws with a lot of teeth. All crocodiles live in regions with a hot climate. These reptiles are usually divided into three families, although there are separate species. So, the crocodile, the alligator and the caiman are the main families, and the Indian gavial is a separate species. Despite the external similarity, the species differ from each other in size. Judge for yourself: body length varies from 1.5 to 7 meters in different individuals. As you can see, the spread is substantial.

What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?

Despite its popularity, this question is not entirely correct. It would be more correct to rephrase it a bit: how do alligators differ from other crocodiles? This formulation is more true, since alligators are a separate order of crocodiles. Having dealt with the formulation of the question, it's time to move on to comparing these toothy predators. After all, differences exist not only in external signs, but also in the conditions in which the alligator and crocodile dwell. The difference between these reptiles is quite significant. The main difference is the shape of the head. On this basis it is easiest to notice the difference. The muzzle of the alligator is more round, in shape it resembles the letter of the English alphabet "U". And the crocodile is sharper and similar to the letter "V". The next obvious difference can be called a different "bite" jaws when they are closed. The alligator has an upper jaw much wider than the lower one. This leads to complete closure of the bottom when closing. And the crocodiles can see the teeth of both jaws. In this case, the lower canines are particularly prominent. The third difference is the color of the skin. In crocodiles the whole body is covered with small black spots, serving as "motion sensors". Yes, yes, it is with the help of such a feature of the structure that they catch the movement of prey. Alligators "sensors" are only near the muzzle. The next sign can serve as a response to the second popular question: "Who is more - a crocodile or an alligator?" The length of the trunk of the latter is on average shorter than that of the other representatives of the detachment in question.

Habitat

We will continue to consider what distinguishes a crocodile from an alligator. Habitat - a very important factor, and not only to compare these families (but more on this later). So, alligators are common only in fresh water bodies of China and North America, in other parts of the world you can find only crocodiles and caimans. Crocodiles, by the way, can live in fresh as well as in salt water. This is due to the fact that in their mouths there are special glands, which remove excess salt.

Every day, there is a reduction in the habitat of these reptiles. This factor inevitably puts crocodiles on the verge of extinction. It concerns both South America and South-East Asia. After the construction of dams and the construction of canals cause irreparable damage to wildlife. Because of the cutting down of the jungle, the level of precipitation decreases, as a result, those reservoirs in which the crocodiles were driven begin to dry up. The extinction of reptiles is alarming not only because of the disappearance of whole species, but also because in this connection the ecological balance of these regions will be disturbed. For example, in Florida, in the Everglades reserve, alligators feed on shell-spotted pike with bony scales. The latter, having lost its natural enemy, can annihilate in a short time all bream and perch. In addition, alligators help survive other animals during periods of drought. They dig pits, thereby creating small ponds in which the fish finds shelter, and mammals - birds and reptiles - watering.

The habits

Considering the question of what distinguishes a crocodile from an alligator, one can not help recalling their behavior, or rather, about habits. What characteristic comes to mind first of all when mentioning these predators? That's right, aggressiveness. There is an opinion that the alligator is less bloodthirsty than the crocodile. On the other hand, it should be understood that all this is relative. After all, none of these reptiles will not release prey from their teeth if they manage to grab the victim. And though nobody dares call alligators good-natured creatures, nevertheless they are just paws compared to crocodiles, which grow to 7 meters and weigh more than a ton. These monsters, especially Nile, actively hunt not only for large animals, but also for humans.

Conclusion

It should be remembered that all reptiles are carnivorous. With their wide and grasping jaws, and also with an ominous grin, they have gained the reputation of aggressive and merciless predators. Therefore, you should be extremely careful when dealing with these inhabitants of water bodies.