Alligators and Crocodiles in the Everglades

Florida is famous for alligators (pictured)—they are almost always referred to as “gators” in the Sunshine State, as in “Look at the size of that gator” on the nightly local news, when an overly curious reptile is found in someone’s backyard swimming pool, or the “Go Gators” cheer from University of Florida fans.

Everybody knows about Florida gators, but did you know that the Florida Everglades is the only place in the world where alligators can be found alongside crocodiles? Not only is Everglades National Park the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles share the same habitat, but it also is the only location in the United States where crocodiles can be found.

There are several biological differences between alligators and crocodiles, but the main difference one would notice is that alligators (and caimans) have a wide "U"-shaped, rounded snout (like a shovel), whereas crocodiles tend to have longer and more pointed "V"-shaped noses. In alligators, the upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw and completely overlaps it, making the upper teeth hang out over the lower jaw. A crocodile’s upper and lower jaws are of a similar size, so the some of the upper and lower teeth are visible.

Of course, most people who visit the Everglades don’t want to get too close to either an alligator or a crocodile, so it’s best to take advantage of the zoom lens on your camera or a good set of binoculars to detect the difference.