It is one of the most searched animal questions in Florida, and for good reason. Florida is the only place in the United States where you can find both alligators and crocodiles in the wild. They look alike at first glance, but once you know what to look for, they are easy to tell apart.
Look at the snout. Alligators have a broad, rounded, U-shaped snout and show only their upper teeth when the mouth is closed. Crocodiles have a narrow, pointed, V-shaped snout, and the fourth tooth on the lower jaw sticks out even with the mouth shut. Around Orlando and Kissimmee, it is almost always an alligator. Crocodiles live in the salty coastal waters of South Florida and the Keys.
Alligator Vs Crocodile At A Glance
| American alligator | American crocodile | |
|---|---|---|
| Snout | Broad and rounded, U-shaped | Narrow and tapered, V-shaped |
| Teeth with mouth closed | Only upper teeth show | Fourth lower tooth sticks out |
| Color | Dark, nearly black | Lighter, grayish green |
| Babies | Dark with yellow stripes | Light with dark stripes |
| Water | Mostly fresh water: lakes, marshes, rivers, ponds | Brackish and salt water: coastal mangroves, coves, creeks |
| Where in Florida | All 67 counties | South Florida and the Keys |
| How many | About 1.3 million | As many as 2,000 adults |
1. Check The Snout
This is the easiest clue. An alligator's snout is wide and rounded at the tip, like the letter U. A crocodile's snout is longer, thinner and pointed, more like a V. From the side or from above, the difference is easy to spot once you have seen both.
2. Look For The Toothy Grin
When an alligator closes its mouth, its upper jaw covers the lower teeth, so you mostly see the top row. A crocodile's jaws line up differently, so the large fourth tooth on each side of the lower jaw stays visible, giving it that jagged, toothy smile.
3. Compare The Color
Adult alligators are dark gray to almost black. Crocodiles are paler, a grayish green or brownish gray. Color is the least reliable clue, because mud, water and light can make either one look darker or lighter, so use it as a tiebreaker.
4. Think About Where You Are
Habitat settles most debates. Alligators live in fresh water all over the state, from big lakes like Lake Tohopekaliga to roadside canals and retention ponds. Florida's crocodiles live at the northern edge of a range that stretches across the Caribbean. They stick to brackish and salt water in South Florida and the Keys, like mangrove swamps and coastal coves, and only occasionally wander into inland canals in southeast Florida. If you are near Orlando, you are looking at an alligator.
Which Is Bigger?
Both can get very large. Male alligators are much bigger than females, which rarely top 10 feet. The Florida record alligator measured 14 feet, 3.5 inches, and the heaviest on record weighed 1,043 pounds. American crocodiles can grow to similar lengths, but they tend to be leaner.
Which Is More Dangerous?
In Florida, neither one is out to get you, and serious injuries are rare. Florida's crocodiles are generally shy. Wildlife officials point out that a crocodile splashing loudly into the water is frightened, not aggressive, and that crocs often lie with their mouths open simply to cool off. Alligators are far more common and live closer to people, so they are the ones to keep an eye on. Give both plenty of space, never feed them (it is illegal in Florida), and keep kids and pets away from the water's edge.
Are Alligators And Crocodiles Related?
Yes, they are cousins in the crocodilian family, which also includes caimans and gharials. All crocodilians have a four-chambered heart, like mammals and birds. In fact, crocodilians share a common ancestor with dinosaurs, which makes alligators more closely related to birds than to lizards or snakes.
What About Caimans?
Spectacled caimans are a smaller, non-native relative from Central and South America that has turned up in parts of South Florida. Around Orlando, you are very unlikely to see one in the wild.
Where To See Alligators Near Orlando
The surest way is an airboat tour through the marshes south of Kissimmee. At Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, the night tour guarantees alligators, and the Gator Pond has about 35 young gators you can see any time. Daytime tours often spot them sunning on the banks too. For more spots, see where to see alligators near Orlando.
Make It A Boggy Creek Day
Boggy Creek is also home to Mini Moo Land and our herd of Highland cows, so you can see gators and cuddle calves in one trip:
- Ride an airboat through the headwaters of the Everglades and look for wild alligators, bald eagles and wading birds. Choose a 30-minute or one-hour tour, a sunset tour, or a night tour that guarantees gators.
- Dig for gems at the 70-foot Prospector Gem Mine, where kids sift for semi-precious stones, fossils and crystals.
- Walk through Lily's Butterfly Garden and its native butterflies and plants.
- Visit the Gator Pond.
- Eat lakeside at Boggy Bottom BBQ.
The easiest way to do it all is the 1-hour airboat ride and Mini Moo Land combo, which costs $10 less than booking both separately.
Sources
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Croc or gator?
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, American crocodile
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, American alligator facts
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, living with alligators
- Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, FAQ
