It is true that alligators and crocodiles are reptilian relatives; however the two can be distinguished from one another by paying attention to a few of their differing characteristics. One way to distinguish the two apart, is to notice the width of the snout. Although both reptilian relatives possess the same basic layout of a large head, long lizard-like body, four stubby legs and a tail, alligators are typically known to have fatter, rounder snouts than crocodiles.
Crocodiles are also often found throughout the tropics of places such as Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Crocodiles also tend to congregate in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, wetlands, and in brackish water. They mostly feed upon vertebrates such as fish, other reptiles, and mammals. Sometimes they will feed upon invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans, depending on the species.
Alligators are fresh water creatures that can also be found in places such as rivers, and lakes however they also reside in places such as ponds and irrigation canals. Because they are cold blooded reptiles, they are not a fan of cold weather. This often limits their range to the warmer, wetter areas in the Southeastern United States from Texas to North Carolina. Alligators are opportunistic feeders that feast upon adult fish and/or smaller fish, turtles, birds, snakes, frogs, small mammals, smaller alligators, and aquatic invertebrates.
Brian says
The above comments don’t mention the estuarine crocodile of northern Australia and SE Asia.
They inhabit fresh or salt water.
Here in Oz, they are, often, called “salties” and can be found in ocean waters and coastal rivers in the Tropics….sometimes, further south.
They, on occasion, kill and eat humans and grazing stock.