What if we told you that all alligators are crocodiles, but not all crocodiles are alligators--confusing, right? Well, we don’t consider ourselves experts, per say, on the matter of alligators and crocodiles, but we do know a little something about the matter due to our adventurous airboat rides and hands-on alligator experiences. What it comes down to is taxonomy. Both alligators and crocodiles are members of the reptilian order, Crocodylia. It’s the families that each species belongs to is different. A bit more simple than you originally thought?
There is a completely different family under the Crocodylia order called the Gavialidae family, which contains the gharial. Overall, we’re looking at around 23 different species of crocodilians. The crocodilian lineage can be traced back 240 million years, and they’ve outlived dinosaurs by almost 65 million years. They live life split between water and land, and they’re gifted swimmers--many being able to swim up to 20 mph. There are several other factors that make this order specifically suited for the water such as being able to hold their breath for up to an hour, having eyes on top of their heads to lookout for prey, and possessing powerful tails that act as a propeller as they travel through water.
Also known for their skills in hunting, they can eat almost anything they are able to catch like turtles and even buffalo. Another impression trait about this order is their powerful senses used in hunting such as their eyesight above water and at night. Their teeth aren’t made from chewing for digestion, but more for spearing, so crocodilians actually just swallow its food whole or in larger chunks.
While we’ve explored the similarities that reside within the order, let’s explore some of differences between the two families: crocodiles and alligators.
The first main and most obvious difference between the two families is their geographical location. Alligators are primarily found in freshwater swamps, lakes, slow-moving streams typically located in the southeastern United States, South America and China. Crocodiles, on the other hand, can tolerate the salty waters for mangroves and estuaries in Africa, North America, South America and Asia.
The shape of each families’ jaws is another outward difference you can detect between the crocodile and alligator. Crocodiles typically have long, pointed snouts that are V-shaped, whereas alligators possess more rounded snouts that are more U-shaped. The alligator’s jaw tends to be stronger, designed to withstand the pressure of cracking down on hard-shelled prey that reside within its habitat.
A crocodile’s teeth are much more visible due to the similar sizes of the upper and lower jaws, forcing its teeth to interlock when they shut their mouths. An alligator’s teeth are often hidden when its mouth is closed, and you can only see its top teeth.
We’re passionate about Florida wildlife here at Wild Florida. Aside from our unique airboat rides, we also have a wildlife park that allows your family to experience some of the most unique animals you’ve ever seen. You can certainly spend an entire day at Wild Florida, and we would love to have you. You can book your tickets on our website.
