Page 91 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators
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Alligators and crocodiles
See you later
alligator or in a
while crocodile?
On the surface these beasts
have a lot in common, but
there a few key giveaways
On the surface, alligators and crocodiles
do look alike and it’s easy to confuse
them. One of the most obvious ways to
identify an alligator from a crocodile is
in its smile. An alligator’s teeth are set
in such a way that they slot into sockets
within the animal’s jaw when its mouth is
closed. Compared to this, crocodile jaws
are unable to close properly as the fourth
tooth on each side of its lower jaw stick
up above the top, giving them a toothy-
grin-like appearance. Alligators also have
much wider snouts.
Crocodiles have specialised glands,
which allow them to excrete higher levels
of salt than alligators. This means that
species such as the saltwater crocodile
(Crocodylus porosus) have been able to
inhabit saltwater environments. Alligators
are strictly freshwater reptiles, preferring
to inhabit marshes and lakes where they
can hunt fish and turtles.
SPEED
Despite their large size
and lethargic appearance,
crocodiles are capable of
bursting into action with
Saltwater crocs having been
recorded galloping at speeds JAW-DROPPING DIFFERENCES
of up to 27 kilometres (17 Alligators have much more broad, U-shaped jaws
miles) per hour. compared to crocodiles, allowing them to crush
their prey.
common mammalian prey. They are also up acidic blood and when prey is caught, the
highly social reptiles and will co-exist in large crocodile is able to alter the flow of blood in
numbers, though smaller individuals do risk its body, sending acidic blood rushing to its
occasionally becoming dinner themselves. stomach. This change in blood pH triggers
Crocodiles have an adapted digestive even more digestive juices to be released,
system for consuming vast quantities of food effectively breaking down large prey items.
at a time, including tough-to-digest bone Crocodiles are also known to swallow GIVE US A SMILE
Nile crocodiles can easily be spotted by their toothy
and cartilage. As Nile crocodiles lay in wait gastroliths – large rocks that they take into
grins, as their lower teeth are unable to tuck above
for large periods of time, their muscles build their stomachs – to further aid digestion. their top jaws.
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