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For animal enthusiasts, this is a little bit of common sense.. But it’s all too common for people to mix up alligators (family Alligatoridae) and crocodiles (family Crocodylidae). Although they both belong to the order Crocodilia, alligators and crocodiles have their own unique characteristics. For instance, alligators have rounded and wide U-shaped snouts, whereas crocodiles have more pointed V-shaped snouts. Also, crocs have teeth that protrude from the jaw, whether open or closed. Alligators have some pretty, pearly whites that are easily hidden with a closed mouth. A generalization made is that crocodiles have special glands in their tongue to get rid of salt, allowing them to live in saltier locations. This may not always prove to be true, like with the freshwater croc that Australia knows so well, and other possible exceptions with the 23 species of crocodiles. Alligators have a less productive gland, so the two species of alligator stick to freshwater habitats. If worst comes to worst and you can’t identify the large reptile in front of you, refer to it as a crocodilian. This is a term that not only accounts for alligators and crocodiles, but also the lesser known gharial.
This bad boy is one of only two known alligator species; The Chinese Alligator (Alligator sinensis) is smaller than it’s relative the American Alligator, growing an average of 1.5 m (5 ft). They’re native to China, but critically endangered. It’s predicted there’s less than 200 wild individuals; and only 50 of them are old enough to mate! Scientists believe the decline in population is due to not only their habitat being turned into rice patties, but the poisoning of rats which these reptiles will then consume.  So how do you tell the Chinese Alligator from the American Alligator, or even from Crocodiles? Unlike the American Alligator, the Chinese Alligator is fully armored, which is a feature that has otherwise only been seen in a few crocodiles. If you see what you presume is a crocodile, try and think again! If the snout is short and blunt, it’s more likely to be an alligator. If the snout is more tapered and toothy looking, even with the mouth closed, chances are it’s a crocodile.  Photo credit: Jon Inghram
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