Question

can someone help with differentiating between crocodile and alligator

thanks.

Crocodile or Alligator? Snout shape Protruding teeth DPRS Skin color Habitats Crocodile Alligator Salt glands Mating system

Answer 1

crocodile

i. Snout shape- Long and pointed having V shaped jaw.

ii. Protruding teeth - lower teeth fits into notches either side of upper jaw and is visibly protruding when jaws are closed.

iii. DPRs( dome pressure receptor) - present on their body but have different distribution.

iv.skin colour- olive brown tint , lighter colour.

V. Habitat - live in salt water

vi. Salt gland - located in the tongue just below the lingual epithellium to excreate sodium, chloride ions.

Vii.mating system- generally they mate under water, the male holds the female from side and align their cloaca. Then male everts the male reproducing organ inserts into female cloaca. This occurs generally in october or November month.

Alligator:-

i. Sonut shape- wider U shaped snout.

ii. Protruding teeth- teeths are generally unequal and the teeth of lower jaw fits inside the upper jaw when closed.

iii. Dome pressure receptor - DPRs are supplied with nerve by hypertrophied trigmenial system.

iv.skin colour :- darker skin some time greenish due to algae deposition on scales, but Mostly black or darker skin.

V. Habitat- lives in fresh water like marshes, ponds, river, lakes. Some also dwells in brackish water.

Vi. Salt gland- don't required for freshwater dwellers.

Vii. Mating system- the mating season is late spring between april to may. Some perform water dance, some also prefers to release scents from musk gland to attract their mates. Both the sexes rub their snouts and then reproduce using the sex organs.