Alligators ( caiman ) are large reptiles that belong to the Crocodylia order. Alligators and crocodiles are closely related, which is why many people often confuse them. However, these two reptiles are very different.
The alligator stands out for its wide and rounded snout, as well as for its black body. Also, your upper teeth can be seen even with your mouth closed. Crocodiles, on the other hand, are greenish-gray in color and have narrow, pointed snouts. Also, crocodiles can only see the bottom fourth tooth when their mouths are closed.
There are two different types of alligators. The American alligator can grow up to 3.4 meters and weigh more than 450 kilograms. The Chinese alligator is much smaller as it is only 1.5 meters long and weighs around 22 kilos.
On the other hand, the American alligator lives in the southern United States, from North Carolina to Texas. These reptiles tend to prefer rivers, ponds, lakes, and swamps. Instead, Chinese alligators live in the east of the Asian country, and are confined in a small basin of the Yangtze River near the Pacific Ocean.
If you want to discover more interesting facts about alligators, take a look at the following image gallery.
