Alligator vs crocodile comes down to a few easy clues: an alligator has a broad, U-shaped snout, darker skin and hidden lower teeth, while a crocodile has a narrow, tapered snout, grayish-green skin and a visible fourth lower tooth. Alligators favor fresh water, crocodiles salt water. Prefer the cuddly kind? Browse our alligator stuffed animals.
Key takeaways
- Alligators have a broad, rounded snout; crocodiles have a narrow snout that tapers forward from the eyes (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
- With the mouth closed, a crocodile shows the fourth tooth of its lower jaw; an alligator's fits into a socket in the upper jaw and stays hidden (Smithsonian's National Zoo).
- American alligators live mostly in fresh water and lack salt glands; American crocodiles live in brackish and saltwater areas such as mangrove swamps (Smithsonian; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission).
- South Florida is the only place in the United States where alligators and crocodiles live side by side (National Park Service).
- Adult male American alligators average 11.2 feet; male American crocodiles can reach about 20 feet but rarely exceed 14 feet in the wild (Smithsonian; National Park Service).
Alligator vs crocodile: the differences at a glance
The fastest way to tell an alligator from a crocodile is to look at the snout and the teeth. The table below compares the two species found in the United States, the American alligator and the American crocodile, using data from U.S. wildlife agencies and the Smithsonian.
| Feature | American alligator | American crocodile |
|---|---|---|
| Snout | Broad and rounded (U-shaped) | Narrow and tapered (V-shaped) |
| Teeth with mouth closed | Mostly upper teeth visible; fourth lower tooth hidden | Fourth lower tooth exposed on each side |
| Adult color | Black or very dark | Grayish green, with a whitish to yellowish belly |
| Hatchling color | Dark with yellow stripes | Light with dark stripes |
| Preferred water | Fresh water: rivers, swamps, marshes, lakes | Brackish and salt water: coasts, coves, mangrove creeks |
| U.S. range | Southeastern U.S., North Carolina to central Texas | Coastal south Florida only |
| Typical adult length | Females 8.2 ft, males 11.2 ft (averages) | Breeding females 8 to 12 ft; males rarely over 14 ft |
| Nest and eggs | Vegetation mound, usually 35 to 50 eggs | Soil nest above the high-water mark, 20 to 60 eggs |
| Incubation | About 65 days | About 85 days |
| Federal status | Threatened (similarity of appearance to the crocodile) | Threatened in Florida; endangered worldwide listing |
How can you tell an alligator from a crocodile by its snout?
An alligator's snout is wide and rounded at the tip, like the letter U, while a crocodile's snout is narrower and tapers to a point, closer to a V.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describes it this way: the crocodile's snout tapers forward from the eyes, while the alligator's is untapered and rounded at the end. The service also notes that Florida crocodiles are more slender overall than alligators. If you only get a quick look from a boardwalk or a boat, the head shape is usually the clue you can see first.
What about the teeth?
Look at the closed mouth: if you can see a large lower tooth sticking up near the front of the jaw, you are looking at a crocodile.
According to Smithsonian's National Zoo, the alligator's large fourth tooth in the lower jaw fits into a socket in the upper jaw, so it disappears when the mouth is shut. In crocodiles, that same tooth stays exposed. The result is the classic "toothy grin" of the crocodile and the tidier, overbite look of the alligator, whose upper teeth are the ones you mostly see. The zoo adds that an alligator has 74 to 80 teeth at a time and can go through about 3,000 teeth in its lifetime.
Are alligators or crocodiles different colors?
Yes. Adult alligators look black or very dark, while American crocodiles are a lighter grayish green.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says even the babies differ. Young alligators are dark with yellow stripes, and young crocodiles are light with dark stripes. The National Park Service adds that crocodiles have whitish to yellowish undersides. Color can shift with mud, water and light, so use it together with the snout and teeth rather than on its own.
Where do alligators and crocodiles live?
Alligators are freshwater animals of the southeastern United States, while American crocodiles live in coastal salt and brackish water from south Florida to South America.
American alligator range and habitat
The Smithsonian places American alligators from the coasts of North Carolina to central Texas. They prefer slow-moving freshwater rivers, swamps, marshes and lakes. Because they lack salt glands, they can only handle salt water for short periods.
American crocodile range and habitat
The National Park Service explains that south Florida is the northern edge of the American crocodile's range. The species also lives in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, southern Mexico and Central America, south to Ecuador on the Pacific side and Venezuela on the Atlantic side. FWC lists its habitat as brackish or saltwater areas, including ponds, coves and creeks in mangrove swamps.
The one place they meet in the U.S.
South Florida, including Everglades National Park, is the only place in the United States where both animals live together. Alligators are far more common there; crocodiles are described by the park as rare and secretive.
Which is bigger, an alligator or a crocodile?
In the United States, the American crocodile can grow longer than the American alligator, although both can exceed 10 feet as adults.
The Smithsonian gives average lengths of 8.2 feet for adult female alligators and 11.2 feet for adult males, with exceptionally large males weighing close to 1,000 pounds. For the American crocodile, the National Park Service says males can reach about 20 feet but rarely exceed 14 feet in the wild, and breeding females measure about 8 to 12 feet. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes that hatchlings are about 9 inches (23 centimeters) long.
Do alligators and crocodiles eat the same things?
Mostly, yes. Both are carnivores that take fish, birds, frogs, turtles and small mammals near the water.
The Smithsonian notes that alligator jaws are strong enough to crack turtle shells, and that their diet includes fish, snails and other invertebrates, birds, frogs and mammals that come to the water's edge. FWC lists the American crocodile's diet as small mammals, birds, frogs, turtles and fish.
How do they nest and raise their young?
Alligators build mounds of vegetation, while crocodiles dig nests in soil on high, well-drained ground. Crocodile mothers even carry their hatchlings to the water.
- Alligators: courtship starts in April and mating usually happens in early May. Females lay about 35 to 50 eggs in late June or early July, sometimes up to 90, and incubation lasts about 65 days (Smithsonian).
- Crocodiles: nesting takes place in late April and early May. Females lay 20 to 60 eggs above the high-tide mark, incubation lasts about 85 days, and hatching happens in late July or early August (FWC, National Park Service).
- Temperature decides sex: in both species, the warmth of the nest determines whether hatchlings are male or female.
Are alligators and crocodiles endangered?
The American alligator has recovered, while the American crocodile is still protected as a threatened species in Florida.
The Smithsonian explains that the alligator nearly went extinct but recovered, and that it remains federally listed as threatened mainly because it looks so much like the endangered American crocodile. For the crocodile, the National Park Service says the worldwide population is listed as endangered, while the Florida population was reclassified as threatened after a sustained increase in nesting females. FWC lists the species as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Bring home a cuddly alligator (or crocodile)
If the real thing is best admired from a distance, a plush version is the perfect way to practice your snout-spotting at home. Here are three reptile friends from Mister Plush that are in stock now:
- Giant Alligator Plush: an oversized gator available in 35.4 to 59 inches, in gray, brown, green or pink, filled with PP cotton for big hugs and couch lounging.
- Realistic Crocodile Plush: a deep green crocodile with detailed scale texture, in 19.7 or 27.6 inches, great for comparing the narrow crocodile snout with an alligator's.
- Caiman Plush: a smaller cousin with an open- or closed-mouth model and five sizes from 11.8 to 43.3 inches.
Want something even bigger for a bedroom or reading nook? Explore our giant stuffed animals.
FAQ: alligator vs crocodile
What is the main difference between an alligator and a crocodile?
The main difference is the head. Alligators have a broad, rounded U-shaped snout and their fourth lower tooth hides when the mouth is closed. Crocodiles have a narrow, tapered snout and that fourth lower tooth stays visible. Alligators are also darker and prefer fresh water, while crocodiles are grayish green and live in brackish or salt water.
Can alligators live in salt water?
Only for a short time. Smithsonian's National Zoo explains that American alligators lack salt glands, so they tolerate salt water only briefly and prefer freshwater rivers, swamps, marshes and lakes. American crocodiles, by contrast, live in brackish and saltwater habitats such as coves and mangrove creeks, which is why the two rarely share the same spot.
Where can you see alligators and crocodiles together?
In the United States, only in south Florida. The National Park Service notes that this region, including Everglades National Park, is the only place in the country where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist. Alligators are common in its fresh water, while crocodiles stay mostly along the brackish and salty coast and are rarely seen.
Are crocodiles more dangerous than alligators?
Both are large wild predators and should always be watched from a safe distance. In Florida, the National Park Service describes American crocodiles as shy and secretive, and says conflicts with people are rare. Follow posted rules, never feed either animal, and keep children and pets well back from the water's edge.
How long do alligators live?
American alligators live about 50 years in the wild, according to Smithsonian's National Zoo. Once they grow past about 4 feet long, adults have few natural predators other than humans and, occasionally, other alligators. Young alligators face much higher risks: the zoo estimates that roughly 80 percent of them are killed by predators.
Conclusion
To settle the alligator vs crocodile question in seconds, check the snout, then the teeth, then the water. A U-shaped snout and hidden lower teeth mean alligator; a pointed snout and a toothy grin mean crocodile. Ready for a reptile you can actually hug? Shop our alligator and crocodile plush collection.
Sources
- National Park Service, Everglades National Park: American Crocodile: Species Profile
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: American Crocodile
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute: American Alligator
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
