These Things May Seem The Same, But They Have Some Pretty Important Differences

Different Snouts, But Both Equally Terrifying

Photo credit: Ryan Young/PGA TOUR/Jesus Merida/SOPA Images/LightRocket/ Getty Images

An alligator and a crocodile are commonly mistaken because they look visually the same to a lot of people, but Steve Irwin would disagree. There are some major differences in their appearance and behavior which can help you tell them apart. The easiest one to spot is the snout shape. An alligator has a point V-shaped snout, but a crocodiles snout is rounder and U-shaped.

A crocodile is also often bigger and more aggressive than an alligator. Crocs live in water, but an alligator prefers a marsh. A final giveaway is that an alligator can hide their teeth, but a crocodile always has a “grin” on his face. Hopefully, you never end up close enough to see their teeth though.