Alligator VS Crocodile: What are the Obvious Differences?

 

To many people, alligators and crocodiles are one and the same. They’ll see one in a zoo or on TV and see the same reptile. But that’s far from the truth. These two animals do share a striking similarity. It's not surprising as their DNA is 93% identical. Despite the close genetic association, the two animals are as different as night and day. There are even distinct markers to identify one over the other. We’re here to help you distinguish between an alligator vs crocodile.


Is an alligator a reptile? That’s one of the most common questions asked about alligators. Yes, they are reptiles. So are crocodiles. Both of them are vertebrates and are cold-blooded. They also have sales on their bodies. These provide them with protection against the elements and predators. Taxonomy-wise, gators, and crocs belong to the Crocodilia order. This is then composed of three families. These are the Alligatoridae, the Crocodylidea, and the Gavialidae. Gators belong to the first.


One easy way to distinguish an alligator from a crocodile is to look at the size. How big can alligators get? The American crocodile can reach anywhere from 15 to 17 feet in length. Their greatest size falls at around 20 feet. They can also weigh an astounding 800 to 1,000 pounds. Chinese alligators are much smaller though. They often grow to about five feet. They can reach seven feet at the most. That’s peanuts compared to crocodiles. The saltwater crocodile is massive and grows to 23 feet.

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