What’s the Difference Between an Alligator and a Crocodile? Did
you know that all alligators are crocodiles, but not all
crocodiles are alligators? Sound confusing? We thought so! Both
alligator and crocodiles belong to the reptilian order
Crocodylia. Usually when people call one of these reptiles a
crocodile, what they actually mean is “crocodilian,” since these
two are quite different. Alligators have more rounded snouts
that kind of look like they’re shaped like a “U”, while the
crocodile has a long pointed snout that makes more of a “V”
shape. An alligator’s lower jaw is a bit smaller than the upper
jaw so when its mouth is closed, all you see are its upper
teeth. Crocodiles’ jaws are pretty much the same size so when
their mouths are closed, you can see all of their teeth.
Alligators tend to be found only in the southeastern United
States, South America and China, while Crocodiles can be found
all over the world. There’s a good reason for this difference.
Crocodiles can stand being in saltier waters beca