Crocodile vs alligator: A clash between brothers, which will prove to be the superior dragon?
Crocodile
A legendary monster said to have preyed on dinosaurs, the crocodile is a notorious predator, one of few that actively hunt humans.
Crocodiles are the largest reptiles in the world and have the strongest bite force in the entire animal kingdom.
Larger crocodiles, such as Nile Crocodiles and their even bigger cousins, Saltwater Crocodiles, have no predators at all.
In fact, they will even occasionally prey on other apex predators, such as lions and tigers.
If lions are the king of the jungle, then crocodiles are their dragons.
Alligator
Described as living fossils, alligators are one of the most ancient and feared animals in the world.
Alligators live in swamps, rivers, and lakes in North America and China.
The American Alligator is larger than the Chinese and has one of the most powerful bites in the world, capable of crushing even hard turtle shells.
Despite their infamous reputation, alligators are actually relatively shy. Nonetheless, when hungry or threatened, they can become the vicious machines the world knows them to be.
What’s The Difference?
The easiest way to tell the difference between a crocodile and an alligator is by looking at their snouts.
The snouts of crocodiles are bumpier, longer, and narrower, while the alligators’ are smoother, shorter, and broader.
When their mouths are closed, both the crocodile’s upper and lower teeth are visible, however only the lower ones can be seen on the alligator.
Alligators also tend to be black, as opposed to crocodiles, which are usually green or yellow.
Analysis: Crocodile vs Alligator
Crocodiles and alligators have large ranges in size depending on their subspecies.
Crocodiles, for the most part, tend to be bigger than alligators overall, so the most fair representative on the alligator team is the American alligator.
Even the American alligator, however, is no match for the largest of the crocodile species.
The average Nile Crocodile is about 16 feet (4.9m) in length, while the largest one ever discovered said to have been over 21 feet (6.4m) long.
The Saltwater Crocodile is even bigger than the Nile crocodile, with an average length of 17 feet (5.2m) and, while the largest one ever found was over 20 feet (6m) long, they are believed to have the potential to grow to even 23 feet (7m).
Compare these measurements to the American Alligator, whose largest discovered specimen measured to be 19 feet (5.7m), with an average maximum length of 15 feet (4.5m) and the difference is size is obvious.
It’s pretty clear that the two largest crocodiles will claim victory over the largest alligator.
The same can be said for the third largest crocodile, the Orinoco Crocodile, who not uncommonly can reach as much as 16 feet (4.9m). Although it’s only one foot longer, this extra length has an impact on overall bulk and even on its bite force.
The crocodile that is the most similar, and best suited to compare in a fight to the American alligator, is the American Crocodile. Although this crocodiles does have the potential to grow up to 20 feet (6m) long, its average maximum length is approximately 15 feet (4.5m), which is the same as that of the American Alligator.
| Stats | American Crocodile | American Alligator |
| Weight | 1,100 lbs (500kg) | 1,000 lbs (453 kg) |
| Length | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| Bite Force | 1,980 PSI | 1,980 PSI |
The crocodile is slightly heavier (relatively), and on land it will make little difference. In the water, however, it will likely give the crocodile an upper hand.
Crocodiles also tend to be much more aggressive than alligators.
Conclusion
The truth is, there really is nothing that gives the alligator any advantage in such a fight, as the crocodile is more or less a superior version of the alligator, even at similar sizes.
In order for the alligator to have a good chance at winning, it will need to face off with a crocodile smaller than itself. Otherwise, it will ultimately lose.