A crocodile has a ‘V’ shaped snout while an alligator has a rounded ‘U’ shaped snout. A crocodile’s upper and lower jaws are different sizes, so their teeth are always exposed. An alligator has even jaws hiding all but a few of its upper teeth. Crocodiles and alligators are different colours too: crocodiles are olive-brown and alligators are dark-brown or dark green.

Alligators and crocodiles live in different parts of the world, though obviously many are housed in foreign zoos. Alligators are mostly found in eastern China and the southern parts of the United States and crocodiles are found in Australia, Africa, south-east Asia, and across the American continent.

Because crocodiles have special glands to help them cope with salt, they are quite often found near saltwater though they also like freshwater. Alligators are more likely to be found in freshwater lakes and rivers, but they can tolerate salt to a certain extent. Crocodiles and alligators are both from the order, but only crocodiles are ‘true’ crocodiles; the animals are taxonomically different.

Both of these ancient looking beasts are highly dangerous, and they are fast on land and water. If you are close enough to a crocodile or alligator for him to see you smile, you are in big trouble unless you’re up a tree or behind a zoo fence.