South Florida is the only region where both alligators and crocodiles coexist in the wild.
Alligators and crocodiles have a lot in common. They’re both beefy reptiles with a serious set of teeth and strong Triassic vibes. However, there are some big differences between them: Alligators usually have a more U-shaped snout, whereas crocodiles sport a more V-shaped schnoz; alligators stick to fresh water, while crocodiles live in salty environments; alligators are blacker, while crocs prefer earth tones like brown. However, the biggest difference is usually in the locations these two gargantuan reptiles call home. American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) can be found in Cuba, Jamaica, southern Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) mostly sticks to the southeastern U.S. You’ll likely never be tasked with differentiating the two creatures in the wild — that is, unless you find yourself in south Florida.
On the tip of the Florida peninsula lies the U.S.’s third-largest national park — the Everglades. It’s here that the southern extreme of the American alligator’s range overlaps with the northern extreme of the American crocodile’s range. The 7,800-square-mile expanse of wetlands has both brackish and saltwater environments that create a perfect home for crocs, while fresh water supplied by lakes, rivers, and rainfall provides the preferred habitat for alligators. Alligators vastly outnumber crocodiles in the U.S., with about 200,000 alligators in the park alone. And while crocodiles are considered more aggressive, the two rarely fight with each other or with humans. Still, it’s probably a good idea to keep a minimum safe distance between you and their frighteningly numerous teeth.
Although your typical croc and warbler appear to have nothing in common, the duo share a common ancestor that roamed the Earth some 240 million years ago. Both birds and crocodiles (as well as alligators and gharials) descend from a group of reptiles known as “archosaurs,” which literally means “ruling reptiles.” From this group came dinosaurs — the ancestors of birds — and crocodilians. While the common ancestor of these two disparate animals existed a long time ago, birds underwent a drastic evolution, whereas crocodiles remained relatively similar over time. In fact, in 2014 scientists discovered that crocodiles have the slowest molecular change of any known vertebrate genome, meaning crocodiles have remained the same — more or less — for millions of years.
