EnglishMany people have trouble telling American crocodiles apart from alligators. These cold-blooded behemoths look similar but several defining characteristics separate the two.
Join Paco Pacifico as we explore the difference between the American crocodile vs alligator. We’ll also provide insights into how wildlife corridors, like the one at Paso del Istmo, play a key role in their survival.
Can Alligators and Crocodiles Occupy the Same Habitats?
Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) belong to the suborder Eusuchia in the reptile family Crocodylidae, the same as crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus).
Though not friendly, these ancient behemoths can live sympatrically if they’re of similar sizes — living in large areas with an abundance of food.
For example, alligators and crocodiles are frequently seen swimming across the impressive Río San Juan. Some reports also evidence rare sightings of these majestic beasts in another region of Nicaragua: Jinotega.
They also co-exist in Barra de Santiago, in the western region of El Salvador. One of the largest mangrove complexes in Central America, it provides a habitat to an impressive range of wildlife, including alligators and crocodiles.
American Crocodile vs Alligator: Main Characteristics
Here’s how you can tell the alligator from the American crocodile:
Behavior
Crocodiles are generally considered more aggressive than alligators, but this isn’t the case with crocodiles in America.
Unlike their man-eating cousins found in other parts of the world, they’re shy, reclusive, secretive, and rarely attack humans. In fact, when a crocodile basking under the sun is startled, they’ll quickly and noisily enter the water.
That doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous, so keep your distance!
Similarly, alligators exhibit a fear of humans and will retreat when approached. However, they can and will attack if provoked, which can be particularly scary as they can sprint as fast as 35 miles per hour.
Diet
American crocodiles primarily eat fish, though their diet also includes small mammals, birds, crustaceans, frogs, and turtles. They’ll wait for their meal to get close before ambushing and suppressing it with their massive jaws.
Alligators have similar dietary preferences but they are opportunistic feeders. They’re flexible and will eat whatever is abundant and easily available.
Color
American crocodiles have grayish-green colors with pale white to yellowish undersides. Adult alligators, on the other hand, are the darkest colored of all living crocodilians. Adults typically have a dark gray or black hue while juveniles have yellow bands on their sides for camouflage.
Size
Male adult alligators can grow to over 11 feet and weigh up to 790 pounds. However, exceptionally large specimens can weigh nearly half a ton or 1,000 pounds. Females are smaller, rarely exceeding 8 feet and 6 inches while weighing up to 201 pounds.
In contrast, Crocodylus acutus are significantly larger. Males have an overall length of 20 feet and weigh up to 1,102 pounds. Large adults have been known to exceed 2,200 pounds. Similar to gators and other crocodile species, females are smaller. They reach a maximum length of 12 feet 6 inches and weigh up to 381 pounds.
Snout
The American crocodile has a v-shaped snout, with sharp, interlocking teeth delivering some of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom at 2,980 pounds per square inch. In contrast, the opportunistic alligator has a long, rounded snout, with the upper jaw jutting out when shut.
Habitat
American crocodiles inhabit coastal, brackish, or saltwater areas. They are found in coves, creeks, and ponds in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Southern Florida, Mexico, and along the Central American coast south of Venezuela.
Meanwhile, alligators live along the edges of slow-moving freshwater rivers, lakes, marshes, and swamps. You’ll find them in the southeastern states from Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi to North and South Carolina.
The main reason for their unique distribution is the lingual salt glands on crocodiles’ tongues. This physiological feature enables them to eliminate excess salt from their bodies, making them more adaptable to salty marine environments.
Alligators also possess this gland; however, it is not as efficient. Alligators thus have a lower tolerance for saltwater and prefer freshwater areas like marshes and lakes.
Differences in Population
While population data is limited, experts estimate there are about 1,000-2,000 crocodiles across Central and South America and Mexico.
Previously hunted for its hide, these beasts now serve as a prime example of conservation success. For example, a 2015 piece shows that their population has gone from five to a staggering 200+ in the Barra de Santiago nature reserve. However, they still remain under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
In contrast, alligators are a rare sight in Mesoamerica.
The Rio Grande American alligator is not native to the region, but you can find them in areas adjacent to the Texas border. They might make their home base in the Gulf Coast Prairies and the Mexican Marshes in Mexico. If you’re lucky, you can also sneak a peek at their relative, the caiman, in Guatemala.
Why Do American Crocodile Populations Remain Low?
Here are the biggest dangers threatening the existence of crocodiles:
Habitat Loss
The primary factors affecting this ancient species’ decline are overexploitation and the loss of nesting habitats within its range.
These are mainly caused by human development as civilizations make room for urban and rural populations.
Thanks to conservation efforts, there are more crocodiles today than 5 decades ago. However, this is limited to artificial substrates and human-made habitats. In El Salvador, they live in reservoirs in freshwater areas and brackish coastal habitats in saltwater sections of rivers, coastal lagoons, and swamps.
In El Salvador, you may find them in freshwater environments like ponds, rivers, coves, creeks, and lakes.
Predation
Crocodiles are apex predators, meaning they occupy the top of the food chain. However, they are illegally hunted by humans for their hide, which is used to manufacture luxury items like handbags and belts.
If you come across crocodile traffickers, you can work with non-governmental organizations. Join them as they urge governments to impose stricter measures against the illegal trade of wildlife parts and products.
In addition, hatchlings and eggs are killed and consumed by winged predators like herons, invertebrates, fishes, reptiles, and mammals. The mother crocodile protects them and drives intruders away by staying near their nests.
Hydrologic Conditions
Crocodylus acutus are sensitive to environmental changes. Hydrological alterations—which are closely linked to feeding opportunities—impact crocodile distribution, relative abundance, nesting, growth, and survival.
In El Salvador, especially in Cara Sucia – San Pedro, springs and wetlands are drying up — and it has been linked to saline intrusion into coastal aquifers, among other factors. And this stands across the Pacific coast and in the Estero Real, and reports show that surface water is becoming brackish to saline because of saltwater intrusion and tidal effects.
This could lower the hatching survival rate, probably because nursery habitats with low salinity are often miles away.
The good news is long-term monitoring shows nesting responds positively to improved freshwater flow, which can increase their density.
The Loss of Crocodilians Has Devastating Consequences
The American crocodile is a flagship species. They control the growth of some overpopulated prey species, keep land animals from using up limited water supplies during the dry periods, and inhibit the encroachment of aquatic plants in these ecosystems, making them extremely important for maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems.
They also create shelter for other species by prolific burrowing.
A study showed that if these endangered species are not well protected, we stand to lose up to 38% of the unique and diverse ecological functions they provide for wider ecosystems. This can have cascading disruptions through the food chain, making it even more important to implement conservation efforts.
Make a Difference With Paso Pacifico
We are seeing an increase in crocodiles in the mangroves of Pacific Central America, but that does not mean our conservation efforts should take a backseat. As crocodiles can undertake long-distance journeys, it’s become important to protect all their potential habitats for maximum benefits.
And that’s where we could use your help.With your generous donations, we can protect endangered species and connect ecosystems from land to sea. We work with local communities to reinforce essential wildlife corridors in the Pacific Slope of MesoAmerica, ensuring the threatened animals are never driven away from their homes.