There is always something in the news from somewhere around the world of people getting attacked by crocodiles and alligators. Many people try to avoid coming into contact with them while others prefer to actually swim with alligators. Some actually have kids' parties and they seem to be a big hit.
There are many people that are not sure what the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile and to be honest there are many similarities between the two. First of all there are three family groups of crocodiles namely the alligatoridae, the alligator and the caiman fall under this one. The crocodylidae, the gavialidae and the true crocodile falls under the next group. The last one is the gharial. So alligators are a different family from the crocodiles.
A respectable distance should be about sixty feet and if they begin to hiss and also lunge towards one it is their way of saying that the distance is too close. They might seem slow but they are very powerful and can move very fast over short distances. Many people say that not running in a straight line is better, but this is not true as they run in straight lines and cannot keep up the speed for long periods of time.
If ever one comes across one crossing a road do not attempt to move it. It will eventually move along by itself so just be patient. They generally move around during the breeding seasons which are summer and spring. Also never throw anything at them as this can cause injuring or even killing them and it is punishable by a big fine or days spent behind bars.
The most popular specie to be kept captive was the Caiman crocodile but has now been taken over by the Dwarf caimans. They do not grow to be very large and seem to be more available. Their natural habitat is along the Amazon River in South America. They are more nocturnal and will spend their days hiding out in burrows.
The quickest and easiest way to distinguish between the crocodile and the alligator is the shape of their noses. The alligators will have a very distinct rounded shape very much like a shovel and the crocodiles have more of a "V" shape to them. The broader nose is specially designed for extra strength and can apply massive force. This is to enable them to snack on any hard shelled invertebrates as well as turtles.
The next is the placement of the teeth. In the lower jaw of the alligator it is wider than the upper jaw and overlaps it so the teeth in the lower jaw are totally hidden when the mouth is closed. The forth upper tooth does tend to show when the jaw is shut. In the crocodiles both jaws are about the same allowing the teeth to show and the lower tooth is noticeable as well.
Another noticeable difference is that alligators often reach lengths of fourteen to fifteen feet in length, whereas the crocodiles are a little shorter. The salt water crocodile can reach to eighteen feet and others still twenty feet in length. Much smaller species can only reach about five feet and these are the African dwarf crocodile.
There are many people that are not sure what the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile and to be honest there are many similarities between the two. First of all there are three family groups of crocodiles namely the alligatoridae, the alligator and the caiman fall under this one. The crocodylidae, the gavialidae and the true crocodile falls under the next group. The last one is the gharial. So alligators are a different family from the crocodiles.
A respectable distance should be about sixty feet and if they begin to hiss and also lunge towards one it is their way of saying that the distance is too close. They might seem slow but they are very powerful and can move very fast over short distances. Many people say that not running in a straight line is better, but this is not true as they run in straight lines and cannot keep up the speed for long periods of time.
If ever one comes across one crossing a road do not attempt to move it. It will eventually move along by itself so just be patient. They generally move around during the breeding seasons which are summer and spring. Also never throw anything at them as this can cause injuring or even killing them and it is punishable by a big fine or days spent behind bars.
The most popular specie to be kept captive was the Caiman crocodile but has now been taken over by the Dwarf caimans. They do not grow to be very large and seem to be more available. Their natural habitat is along the Amazon River in South America. They are more nocturnal and will spend their days hiding out in burrows.
The quickest and easiest way to distinguish between the crocodile and the alligator is the shape of their noses. The alligators will have a very distinct rounded shape very much like a shovel and the crocodiles have more of a "V" shape to them. The broader nose is specially designed for extra strength and can apply massive force. This is to enable them to snack on any hard shelled invertebrates as well as turtles.
The next is the placement of the teeth. In the lower jaw of the alligator it is wider than the upper jaw and overlaps it so the teeth in the lower jaw are totally hidden when the mouth is closed. The forth upper tooth does tend to show when the jaw is shut. In the crocodiles both jaws are about the same allowing the teeth to show and the lower tooth is noticeable as well.
Another noticeable difference is that alligators often reach lengths of fourteen to fifteen feet in length, whereas the crocodiles are a little shorter. The salt water crocodile can reach to eighteen feet and others still twenty feet in length. Much smaller species can only reach about five feet and these are the African dwarf crocodile.
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