Alligators and crocodiles are pre historic creatures and are still very much around. They are truly beautiful animals but they do require that people respectfully keep their distance. Those that swim with alligators do so when they are on a leash and when their mouths are securely taped closed. Keeping out of the way of their powerful tails is also very important.
There are many people that are not sure what the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile and to be honest there are many similarities between the two. First of all there are three family groups of crocodiles namely the alligatoridae, the alligator and the caiman fall under this one. The crocodylidae, the gavialidae and the true crocodile falls under the next group. The last one is the gharial. So alligators are a different family from the crocodiles.
The gharial is also commonly known as the fish eating crocodile and is mainly found in the Indian Subcontinent. It is estimated that there are as few as two hundred and thirty five left. This is considered to be because of the loss of their habitat as well as the depletion of fish. They are now on the list of critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
These species can never be tamed even after many hours of handling them. Some of them can be more tolerant to handling then others but they are wild animals and just like large felines they live by instinct. Many people do breed them in hatcheries but they have got a world of knowledge when it comes to them and their handlers are well educated in all aspects of their own safety.
The top of this animal is either a light olive or a dark colour and can be speckled on the tail, head and body. After about twenty years the dorsal surfaces become grey black and the lower body in the front becomes yellowish white. The bulb on the nose enables the male to make a hissing sound to attract females and this noise can be heard as far away as one kilometre.
If ever coming across a nest or baby alligators rather leave them alone. The mother might not be seen but she is in the close proximity of her babies and if they are in danger she will not hesitate to attack. Sometimes she may just hiss or lunge and this is her way of indicating that one is too close to her family.
These are less likely to spend a lot of time in water as they generally live in mostly shaded areas with fast moving water in the wild. They do not like to be in a lot of light during the day and seem to be more active at night. Ensure that their area is large so they can explore and if there is no water in the enclosure it is not a train smash.
Another noticeable difference is that alligators often reach lengths of fourteen to fifteen feet in length, whereas the crocodiles are a little shorter. The salt water crocodile can reach to eighteen feet and others still twenty feet in length. Much smaller species can only reach about five feet and these are the African dwarf crocodile.
There are many people that are not sure what the difference is between an alligator and a crocodile and to be honest there are many similarities between the two. First of all there are three family groups of crocodiles namely the alligatoridae, the alligator and the caiman fall under this one. The crocodylidae, the gavialidae and the true crocodile falls under the next group. The last one is the gharial. So alligators are a different family from the crocodiles.
The gharial is also commonly known as the fish eating crocodile and is mainly found in the Indian Subcontinent. It is estimated that there are as few as two hundred and thirty five left. This is considered to be because of the loss of their habitat as well as the depletion of fish. They are now on the list of critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
These species can never be tamed even after many hours of handling them. Some of them can be more tolerant to handling then others but they are wild animals and just like large felines they live by instinct. Many people do breed them in hatcheries but they have got a world of knowledge when it comes to them and their handlers are well educated in all aspects of their own safety.
The top of this animal is either a light olive or a dark colour and can be speckled on the tail, head and body. After about twenty years the dorsal surfaces become grey black and the lower body in the front becomes yellowish white. The bulb on the nose enables the male to make a hissing sound to attract females and this noise can be heard as far away as one kilometre.
If ever coming across a nest or baby alligators rather leave them alone. The mother might not be seen but she is in the close proximity of her babies and if they are in danger she will not hesitate to attack. Sometimes she may just hiss or lunge and this is her way of indicating that one is too close to her family.
These are less likely to spend a lot of time in water as they generally live in mostly shaded areas with fast moving water in the wild. They do not like to be in a lot of light during the day and seem to be more active at night. Ensure that their area is large so they can explore and if there is no water in the enclosure it is not a train smash.
Another noticeable difference is that alligators often reach lengths of fourteen to fifteen feet in length, whereas the crocodiles are a little shorter. The salt water crocodile can reach to eighteen feet and others still twenty feet in length. Much smaller species can only reach about five feet and these are the African dwarf crocodile.
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