8.02.2010

August: Reptiles, Week 1: Crocodile/Alligator

Crocodiles and Alligators.. very similar, but significantly different. Do you know what makes them different?

"The easiest way of telling apart crocodiles from alligators is to look at their noses. Alligators have a wide "U"-shaped, rounded snout (like a shovel), whereas crocodiles tend to have longer and more pointed "V"-shaped noses.

Also, in alligators, the upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw and completely overlaps it. Therefore, the teeth in the lower jaw are almost completely hidden when the mouth closes, fitting neatly into small depressions or sockets in the upper jaw. This is particularly apparent with the large fourth tooth in the lower jaw. In crocodiles, the upper jaw and lower jaw are approximately the same width, and so teeth in the lower jaw fit along the margin of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed."

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