Telling Alligators and Crocodiles Apart

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)	American Crocodile (Crocodilus acutus)
Broad snout	Narrow snout
Blackish coloration in adults	Olive brown coloration
Only teeth of the upper jaw visible when jaws are closed	Teeth of both jaws visible when jaws are closed
Range: Southeastern United States	Range: In the U.S. found only in the southern tip of Florida. Also the Caribbean, Central and South America. The American Crocodile is an Endangered Species. Only a few hundred remain in the U.S.
Nesting: Nest is a mound of vegetation, constructed by the female alligator in freshwater environments	Nesting: lays eggs in a mud or sand nest in brackish or saltwater environments.
South Florida is the only place in the world where both alligators and crocodiles can be found together. National Park Service lands are valuable sanctuaries for these fabulous reptiles.