Crocodiles and alligators
Crocs and gators are big reptiles with hard, scaly skin. They have been on the planet for millions of years. They were alive when the dinosaurs were alive.
Crocodiles
What's the difference between crocs and gators?
What's the difference between crocs and gators?
A gator has a wider nose than a croc. Look at their mouths when they are shut.
A crocodile's bottom tooth sticks out. |
An alligator has no bottom teeth sticking out. |
There are different sorts of crocs and gators.
The saltwater crocodile
'Saltwater crocodile on a beach in Darwin, NT' by Tourism NT via Wikimedia Commons.
The saltwater crocodile is the biggest of all the crocs and gators.
Fantastic fact The saltwater crocodile is the biggest reptile alive today. It can grow as long as 4 people lying down head to toe. |
Female Saltwater Crocodile at Daintree River by Richard Fisher on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
It lives in the sea and in water near the sea in Asia and Australia.
Hunting for food
Crocs and gators hunt for prey in water. Their eyes are above the water but most of their bodies is hidden under the water.
Photo of an American crocodile. © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
They eat fish and land animals that go to the water to drink. Big crocs and gators may even try to eat bears, snakes, and wild cats.
The mouth
They have about 80 sharp teeth. As 1 tooth falls out another grows in its place. Before they die they may grow up to 3,000 teeth!
They use different muscles to open and shut their jaws. Strong muscles shut their jaws. But the muscles that open their jaws are weak. In fact, a rubber band around the jaws can keep the jaws shut!*
On the move
They are strong swimmers and they can walk on land.
An alligator
Babies
They are good mums. The mum digs a hole and lays her eggs. Then she covers the eggs with plants, mud, and sticks. She stays near the nest to protect the eggs from predators.
When the babies hatch, she takes them in her mouth to the water.
The babies can crawl and catch their own food, but they stay with their mum for up to 2 years. She protects them from animals that may eat them, such as other crocs and gators!
Baby alligators
* Watts - Amazing Animals, Alligators and Crocodiles