Differences in behavior are also apparent. The two images below show an exception to the "jaw shape" rule. Their size and weight also affect their speed. Crocodiles have similar organs covering virtually every scale on their body, but alligators and caimans only have those around the jaws. Where Do Alligators and Crocodiles Live? As you can hopefully see, the simple answer is not always the most interesting! Watch the difference between Alligator Vs Crocodile fight comparison. [email]. Chinese alligators are also usually shorter than their American counterparts; they’ve been measured at 4.5 to 5 feet, whereas American alligators can range from 10 to 15 feet in length. Next come the alligators; American alligators are roughly 13 feet long and weigh 794 pounds. What's the difference between a crocodile and an alligator? When cleaning alligator pools, some zookeepers can tread on alligators without eliciting a response, though crocodiles almost invariably react aggressively. Caimans are among the smallest reptilian predators, averaging 6.5 feet in length and 88 pounds in weight. Crocodiles can grow up to 23 ft long and weigh up to 2,000 lbs. When all the above criteria are considered, the mugger is definitely a crocodile. Alligators can grow up to 14 ft long and weight up to 1,000 lbs. As shared above, the length of the crocodile is longer than of the alligator wherein the snout of the crocodile is V-shaped and Alligator has a U shaped snout. Most people regard crocodiles as more aggressive than alligators, and this is true of some species. Bottom teeth. Mistaking an alligator for a crocodile and vice versa is fairly common. The jaws of the crocodile are of the same size and width; hence both their upper and lower teeth interlock perfectly when crocodile closes their mouth. The confusion lies over why crocodiles have them, but not alligators and caimans. This a fight to a better predator. These were originally called ISOs, or Integumentary Sense Organs, although recent research has renamed them DPRs (Dermal Pressure Receptors). SPECIES LIST | BIOLOGY DATABASE | COMMUNICATION | CAPTIVE CARECROCS ON FILM | CROC SHOTS | CHINESE ALLIGATOR FUND | CROC LINKS Design and content by Adam Britton © 1995-2012 All rights reserved. Alligator Vs. Crocodile: Here’s a Detailed Comparison With Pictures. Crocodile and alligator skin wallets, handbags, boots etc are easy to tell apart - if the scales have a small spot or dimple close to the edge, you know the skin is from a crocodile and not an alligator or caiman. Alligators can often reach at least 14 or 15 feet in length, which is larger than some crocodile species, but not others. Alligators live only in the southeastern US and eastern … Integumentary sense organs: Both crocodiles and alligators have small, sensory pits dotted around the upper and lower jaws - take a close look on a photograph, and you'll see small, black speckles almost like unshaven stubble. Although it's been known for years that sense organs on the jaws are involved in pressure detection, nobody is quite sure what those organs covering the rest of the body in crocodiles actually do. Read the following article to understand how the distinction can be done with just a couple of minutes of observation. A crocodile is generally more aggressive than an alligator meaning that it could easily win the fight. Regardless of their role, they're very good at telling apart crocodile skin from alligator skin. Always bear the details in mind when faced with general questions like what's the difference between crocodiles and alligators. Crocodiles are the largest of their kind; they can be as long as 16 feet and as heavy as 1,151 pounds. They probably extend the sensory surface over the crocodile's entire body, but previous researchers have suggested they may assist in chemical reception, or even salinity detection. Alligators are typically shorter and smaller than crocodiles. A fully grown crocodile is more likely to injure an alligator due to its bigger size. 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. Fun Fact: The largest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile and the second largest is the Nile crocodile. This is illustrated below - the alligator on the left does not have any sense organs, but the crocodile on the right does. Alligator’s lower jaws are slightly smaller than their upper jaws, meaning that all of its … The Indian mugger (Crocodylus palustris) breaks the crocodile convention of having narrow jaws - its jaws are superficially very similar in shape to those of an alligator, although the fourth lower tooth is still visible. How to Identify a Crocodile These are capable of detecting small pressure changes in water, and assist in locating and capturing prey. 5. On average, alligators tend to be smaller than crocodiles, weighing anywhere from 70 to 1,000 pounds.